COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio has ordered its investigations into First Energy and the House Bill 6 scandal to resume. The stay that has been in place on the case since August 2022 expired Friday.
Earlier this month, a grand jury indicted former PUCO Chairman Sam Randazzo and two First Energy executives in state court on a combined 27 felony counts. House Bill 6 and the $60 million First Energy bribery scheme has been called the largest corruption case in Ohio history.
Meanwhile, Ohio Democratic lawmakers are asking the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate the DeWine administration over the scandal.
On Thursday, Senate Minority Leader Nickie Antonio of Lakewood and House Minority Leader Allison Russo sent a letter to the U.S. Attorney for Ohio's Southern District asking him to investigate what the DeWine-Husted administration knew about the First Energy scheme and when. They say they want further investigation, reforms and justice for the people of Ohio.
"Because Ohioans are still paying a corruption tax through the increased rates through their electric bills, the people are bearing the brunt and paying the price of the largest bribery scandal in Ohio history," Antonio said.
Along with the recent indictments of former PUCO Chairman Randazzo and the two First Energy executives, the bribery scandal also landed former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder in prison for 20 years.
In their letter to the U.S. attorney, the minority leaders say, although Attorney General Dave Yost's efforts in indicting the men is laudable, they believe his "office does not possess the capacity to detach itself from the political realities of Ohio's control of state government."
"It's time that we fully close this dark chapter in Ohio's history, that we undo the economic damage of corruption that Ohioans are still paying today and that we ensure that this corruption is never commonplace in our state government no matter who is in charge at the highest levels," Russo said.
"My oath swears no allegiance to any political officer or party, only to the rule of law and to the Constitution. Let the chips fall where they may," Yost said in a statement in response to the letter.
DeWine's Press Secretary Dan Tierney said the call for a DOJ investigation was pure politics and disrespectful to the law enforcement investigation that's been going on for four years.
"The idea that the DOJ hasn't been looking into this is just wrong," Tierney added.
The Democrats' letter also questions the administration's knowledge of a $4.3 million payment from First Energy to Randazzo before his appointment to PUCO chair.
"Knowing everything that the governor knows now about what is in the indictment, he would have made a different decision," Tierney said about Randazzo's appointment. "But at the time, he chose Sam Randazzo based on his experience representing both sides of utility issues."
Democrats are also calling on the Republican-dominated legislature to enact reforms and repeal House Bill 6 which was at the center of the scandal.