Ohio Republicans fell hard on colleague Larry Householder in light of a surprise indictment on federal racketeering charges pertaining to a $60 million legislative bribery scheme carried out over the course of several years.
According to NPR, Householder, a longtime GOP state representative and two-time speaker in the state General Assembly, was arrested Tuesday morning by FBI operatives in his rural home after allegedly turning a major profit on the July 2019 passage of a nuclear energy bailout deemed favorable by special interests.
Former Ohio Republican Party Chairman Matt Borges, Householder adviser Jeffrey Longstreth and lobbyists Neil Clark and Juan Cespedes were also arrested in connection to the racket.
Householder had first entered the Ohio legislature in 1997, serving for four years as a general assemblyman and three more as House speaker before stepping away from the body to serve as Perry County auditor due to term restrictions.
Householder was reportedly subject to corruption-related investigations in 2004 as well but faced no charges at the time.
Because of the nature of these charges, it will be impossible for Speaker Householder to effectively lead the Ohio House of Representatives; therefore, I am calling on Speaker Householder to resign immediately.
"Because of the nature of these charges, it will be impossible for Speaker Householder to effectively lead the Ohio House of Representatives; therefore, I am calling on Speaker Householder to resign immediately."
According to NPR, Householder, a longtime GOP state representative and two-time speaker in the state General Assembly, was arrested Tuesday morning by FBI operatives in his rural home after allegedly turning a major profit on the July 2019 passage of a nuclear energy bailout deemed favorable by special interests.
Former Ohio Republican Party Chairman Matt Borges, Householder adviser Jeffrey Longstreth and lobbyists Neil Clark and Juan Cespedes were also arrested in connection to the racket.
Householder had first entered the Ohio legislature in 1997, serving for four years as a general assemblyman and three more as House speaker before stepping away from the body to serve as Perry County auditor due to term restrictions.
Householder was reportedly subject to corruption-related investigations in 2004 as well but faced no charges at the time.
Because of the nature of these charges, it will be impossible for Speaker Householder to effectively lead the Ohio House of Representatives; therefore, I am calling on Speaker Householder to resign immediately.
"Because of the nature of these charges, it will be impossible for Speaker Householder to effectively lead the Ohio House of Representatives; therefore, I am calling on Speaker Householder to resign immediately."
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