An influential local politician in the United States who received money in the form of donations in exchange for passing a bill that gave astronomical profits to private companies was sentenced to a heavy sentence.
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on the 29th that the Southern Federal Court of Ohio sentenced former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder, who was convicted of bribery and other charges, to 20 years in prison. Previously, while seeking a 20-year sentence, prosecutors pointed out that “the accused acted like the boss of a criminal group. He ran a criminal enterprise in the shadows.”
In 2019, former Chairman Householder passed a bill to support 1.3 billion dollars for nuclear power plants and thermal power plants operated by energy company First Energy. The way Householder former chairman received the back money was carefully planned.
First Energy has donated $60 million to various non-profit organizations connected to former Chairman Householder since 2018, before the bill was passed. The groups then supported the campaigns of 20 Republican candidates close to him, including former Speaker Householder, in the 2018 state House elections.
In fact, the candidates elected with Householder’s backing later actively supported legislation to subsidize energy companies, as well as his election to the House Speaker post.” Former Speaker Householder was expelled from the State House shortly after the results of the prosecution’s investigation were announced in 2020. The State House also struck down a subsidy bill for First Energy.
First Energy agreed to cooperate with the prosecution’s investigation and pay a fine of 230 million dollars.