Former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder was indicted on 10 new state felony charges alleging misuse of campaign money and ethics violations, Attorney General Dave Yost announced on Monday.
A state grand jury indictment filed in Cuyahoga County accuses Householder of the following new felony charges:
- One count of theft in office;
- Two counts of aggravated theft;
- One count of telecommunications fraud;
- One count of money laundering; and
- Five counts of tampering with records.
The new charges come after Householder was found guilty and sentenced to 20 years in prison last year for crimes related to his participation in a $61 million bribery and racketeering plot surrounding HB 6, the state’s $1 billion bailout of the FirstEnergy nuclear power plant.
Monday’s indictment alleges that Householder (pictured above) misused campaign funds to pay for his personal criminal defense in his federal case and that he allegedly failed to complete Joint Legislative Ethics Committee filings accurately.
“Specifically, records show that he did not disclose fiduciary relationships, creditors and gifts – including those related to fraudulent activity surrounding House Bill 6, legislation that benefited FirstEnergy,” Yost’s office explained.
Householder served two separate terms as House Speaker, a role he held until his removal from the position in July 2020 after his federal indictment and arrest. He remained a state representative until June 16, 2021, when the State House expelled him.
If Householder is convicted for theft in office, he would forever be disqualified from public office, public employment, or a position of trust in the state, according to Yost’s office.
“This case seeks to hold Mr. Householder accountable for his actions under state law, and I expect that the results will permanently bar him from public service in Ohio,” Yost said in a statement. “State crimes have state penalties, and a conviction will ensure that there will be no more comebacks from the ‘Comeback Kid.’”
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Ohio Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
