No Verdict: Jury Deadlocked in Ohio’s $60 Million Bribery Scandal
Ohioans expect their government to work for them, not for the highest bidder. But for years, a shadow of corruption hung over the Statehouse, trading families' interests for corporate bailouts.
This is the story of the FirstEnergy bribery scandal—the largest political corruption scheme in our state’s history—and the latest update in the long road to accountability.
The History: A Billion-Dollar Betrayal
The scandal traces back to the 2019 passage of House Bill 6 (HB6). While the bill was sold as a "clean energy" plan, federal investigators eventually uncovered a $60 million bribery scheme orchestrated by FirstEnergy to secure a $1 billion bailout for two struggling nuclear plants.
What looked like a policy debate was, in reality, a criminal conspiracy. Former House Speaker Larry Householder was the architect, using millions in dark money to manipulate elections and silence the public. For his betrayal of the people of Ohio, Householder is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence.
Where We Are Today: The Quest for Justice
While the politicians have been sentenced, the battle to hold the corporate executives accountable reached a dramatic crossroads this week.
On Tuesday, March 31, 2026, a Summit County jury declared it was deadlocked in the trial of former FirstEnergy CEO Chuck Jones and ex-Senior VP Michael Dowling. After a six-week trial and nine days of deliberation, the jury could not reach a unanimous verdict on charges of bribery and theft.
The state’s case focused on a $4.3 million payment made to Sam Randazzo just before he was appointed to lead the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. Prosecutors argued this was a bribe to install a "friendly" regulator; the defense claimed it was a legitimate business settlement. Randazzo died by suicide in 2024 following his indictment.
Why This Matters to You
As we discussed on The Narrative Podcast with Representative Brian Stewart, this corruption directly impacted your wallet. For years, Ohioans were forced to pay monthly surcharges on their electric bills to prop up failing plants. Here is where those charges stand today:
The Nuclear Bailout: These charges were intended to cost Ohioans $150 million annually. Following the scandal, this portion of the law was repealed by House Bill 128 (134th General Assembly), preventing the payments from being fully collected.
The Coal Subsidies: For years, a separate "rider" on your bill subsidized two 1950s-era coal plants (the OVEC plants). These subsidies cost ratepayers hundreds of millions of dollars before they were finally repealed by House Bill 15 (136th General Assembly) and officially halted on August 14, 2025.
The jury hung.
— Dave Yost (@DaveYostOH) March 31, 2026
We will try the case again. The people of Ohio deserve justice and a verdict. https://t.co/c5veq8PMrT
Attorney General Dave Yost has vowed to retry the case, stating that justice must be done.
For more information, contact CCV at 513-733-5775 or contact@ccv.org. For media inquiries, email media@ccv.org.
As Ohio's largest Christian public policy organization, Center for Christian Virtue seeks the good of our neighbors by advocating for public policy that reflects the truth of the Gospel.
###
