Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Householder Pleads Not Guilty To Federal Racketeering Charge

Ohio Public Radio

Republican former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder has pleaded not guilty to a federal charge of racketeering. Householder is accused of taking part in a bribery scheme in exchange for passing a nuclear power plant bailout law. Ohio Public Radio's Andy Chow reports.

Householder, who is still a member of the Ohio House, appeared in court after several weeks of delay in order to find a new lawyer. 

He entered his plea of not guilty, which he told reporters he would do just days ago during a surprise gaggle on the House floor. 

"I am innocent, I am going to defend myself vigorously," Householder said on Tuesday.  

A utility believed to be FirstEnergy and its subsidiary is accused of pumping millions of dollars into a dark money group. Investigators say Householder used that money for his own personal and political gain. 

All the defendants in the case have pleaded not guilty.   

The Statehouse News Bureau was founded in 1980 to provide educational, comprehensive coverage of legislation, elections, issues and other activities surrounding the Statehouse to Ohio's public radio and television stations. To this day, the Bureau remains the only broadcast outlet dedicated to in-depth coverage of state government news and topics of statewide interest. The Bureau is funded througheTech Ohio, and is managed by ideastream. The reporters at the Bureau follow the concerns of the citizens and voters of Ohio, as well as the actions of the Governor, the Ohio General Assembly, the Ohio Supreme Court, and other elected officials. We strive to cover statehouse news, government issues, Ohio politics, and concerns of business, culture and the arts with balance and fairness, and work to present diverse voices and points of view from the Statehouse and throughout Ohio. The three award-winning journalists at the bureau have more than 60 combined years of radio and television experience. They can be heard on National Public Radio and are regular contributors to Morning Edition, All Things Considered and Marketplace. Every weekday, the Statehouse News Bureau produces in-depth news reports forOhio's public radio stations. Those stories are also available on this website, either on the front page or in our archives. Weekly, the Statehouse News Bureau produces a television show from our studios in the Statehouse. The State of Ohio is an unique blend of news, interviews, talk and analysis, and is broadcast on Ohio's public television stations. The Statehouse News Bureau also produces special programming throughout the year, including the Governor's annual State of the State address to the Ohio General Assembly and a five-part year-end review.
Related Content