Ohio nuclear bribery scandal

The Ohio nuclear bribery scandal (2020) is a political scandal in Ohio involving allegations that electric utility company FirstEnergy paid roughly $60 million to Generation Now, a 501(c)(4) organization purportedly controlled by Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives Larry Householder in exchange for passing a $1.3 billion bailout for the nuclear power operator.[1] It was described as "likely the largest bribery, money laundering scheme ever perpetrated against the people of the state of Ohio" by U.S. Attorney David M. DeVillers, who charged Householder and four others with racketeering on July 21, 2020.[2] According to prosecutors, FirstEnergy poured millions into the campaigns of 21 candidates during the 2018 Ohio House of Representatives election, which ultimately helped Householder replace Ryan Smith as Republican House speaker.[2]

  1. ^ Wamsley, Laurel (21 July 2020). "Ohio House Speaker Arrested In Connection With $60 Million Bribery Scheme". NPR. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  2. ^ a b Armus, Teo (22 July 2020). "GOP Ohio House speaker arrested in connection to $60 million bribery scheme". The Washington Post. Retrieved 23 July 2020.