Larry Householder

Larry Householder
98th and 104th Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives
In office
January 7, 2019 – July 30, 2020
Preceded byRyan Smith
Succeeded byRobert R. Cupp
In office
January 3, 2001 – December 31, 2004
Preceded byJo Ann Davidson
Succeeded byJon Husted
Member of the Ohio House of Representatives
In office
January 3, 2017 – June 16, 2021
Preceded byBill Hayes
Succeeded byKevin D. Miller
Constituency72nd district
In office
January 3, 2003 – December 31, 2004
Preceded byJoseph Sulzer
Succeeded byRon Hood
Constituency91st district
In office
January 3, 1997 – December 31, 2002
Preceded byMary Abel
Succeeded byDerrick Seaver
Constituency78th district
Personal details
Born
Larry Lee Householder

(1959-06-06) June 6, 1959 (age 65)
Zanesville, Ohio, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseTaundra Householder
Children6
EducationOhio University (BA)

Larry Lee Householder (born June 6, 1959)[1] is an American former politician who was convicted in the largest bribery corruption scandal in Ohio’s history.[2] Householder was the state representative for Ohio's 72nd district and was a two-time Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives. He is a member of the Republican Party. Householder represented the same district from 1997 to 2004, including as speaker from 2001 to 2004. In 2016, he was elected to the Statehouse again, and on January 7, 2019, he was re-elected to serve as speaker with support from Ohio House Democrats, including current United States Congresswoman Emilia Sykes. His district included Coshocton and Perry counties, as well as about half of Licking County.

On July 21, 2020, the FBI arrested Householder on federal RICO charges.[3][4][5] The charges allege that his return to politics in 2016 was part of a criminal conspiracy.[4] The Ohio House of Representatives unanimously removed Householder as speaker on July 30.[6] In November 2020, Householder won reelection to his seat in the Ohio House of Representatives but he was expelled from the House on June 16, 2021. Householder was convicted of racketeering after a jury trial[7] and received the maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison on June 29, 2023, for his role in the Ohio nuclear bribery scandal.[8] As a convicted felon, Ohio law prohibits Householder from holding public office in the state.[9] He is currently imprisoned at Federal Correctional Institution, Elkton in Elkton, Ohio.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Knights Templar was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Name of convicted ex-Republican Ohio House leader Larry Householder shows up on Oklahoma federal prison roster". August 26, 2023.
  3. ^ "Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder arrested in $60 million bribery case". usastoday.com. USAToday. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder arrested; U.S. Attorney, FBI announce charges related to $60 mi". WCMH NBC 4 Columbus. July 21, 2020. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  5. ^ "Larry Householder, 4 others face racketeering conspiracy charges in federal court". daytondailynews.com. Dayton Daily News. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  6. ^ Tobias, Andrew J. (July 30, 2020). "Ohio House votes to remove Larry Householder as Ohio Speaker following corruption arrest". cleveland.
  7. ^ "Southern District of Ohio | Jury convicts former Ohio House Speaker, former chair of Ohio Republican Party of participating in racketeering conspiracy | United States Department of Justice". March 9, 2023.
  8. ^ Farise, Adam (June 29, 2023). "Ex-Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder gets maximum 20 years in prison for largest bribery scandal in state history". Cleveland.com. The Plain Dealer. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  9. ^ "Section 2961.02 - Ohio Revised Code | Ohio Laws". codes.ohio.gov. Retrieved August 10, 2024.