Buckeye Reporter

Former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder has been indicted on multiple state felony charges alleging misuse of campaign money and ethics violations. Attorney General Dave Yost announced that the indictment includes one count that would permanently ban Householder from holding public office again in Ohio.

“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,” said Yost. “State crimes have state penalties, and a conviction will ensure that there will be no more comebacks from the ‘Comeback Kid.’”

The state grand jury indictment, filed in Cuyahoga County, accuses Householder, 64, of 10 felony charges, including theft in office, aggravated theft, telecommunications fraud, money laundering, and tampering with records. A conviction for theft in office would permanently disqualify Householder from holding public office, public employment, or a position of trust in the state.

The indictment alleges that Householder misused campaign funds to pay for his personal criminal defense in his federal case and failed to accurately complete Joint Legislative Ethics Committee filings. These filings did not disclose fiduciary relationships, creditors, and gifts related to fraudulent activity surrounding House Bill 6, legislation benefiting FirstEnergy.

Householder was previously convicted on federal charges related to House Bill 6 and FirstEnergy, for which he was sentenced to 20 years in prison. He is currently appealing the sentence.

The state charges were filed in Cuyahoga County, where the financial transactions in question allegedly occurred. The indictment is a result of an investigation by a task force organized under the Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission, part of the Attorney General’s Office.

Householder, who was elected to the Ohio House in 2016 and served as House Speaker in 2019, was removed from office in July 2020 after his federal indictment and arrest. He was later expelled from the House in June 2021.

Indictments are allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. The Attorney General's office has been actively working to hold individuals accountable for the House Bill 6 scandal, with ongoing cases against former PUCO Chairman Sam Randazzo, former FirstEnergy CEO Charles “Chuck” Jones, and Michael Dowling, former FirstEnergy senior vice president of external affairs.

The Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission, established in 1986 within the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, assists in combating organized crime and corrupt activities.

For media inquiries, contact Steve Irwin at 614-728-5417.