Householder gets 20 years in nuclear bribery racket

Crime scene

Breaking news from the Columbus Dispatch:

“Former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder was sentenced Thursday to 20 years in prison for orchestrating a nearly $60 million illegal bribery scheme that fueled his return to political power.

“Once one of the most powerful politicians in Ohio, Householder is now a convicted felon, guilty of racketeering conspiracy and breaking the public’s trust. The scheme was one of the largest corruption cases in Ohio history.

“‘Beyond financial greed, I think you just liked power,’ U.S. District Judge Timothy Black said. ‘You weren’t serving the people. You were serving yourself.’

Householder expressed no remorse for leading an extensive bribery scheme at the Ohio Statehouse.”

On June 30, former Ohio GOP chairman and Householder co-conspirator, Matt Borges, was sentenced to five years in federal prison for his part in the bribery and corruption scheme. Both men have vowed to appeal.

Two more involved in the scheme — Juan Cespedes and Jeff Longstreth — pled guilty and are expected to receive sentences of no more than six months. A fifth conspirator, Neil Clark, pled not guilty before taking his own life.

Read this July 2020 backgrounder on the case from Beyond Nuclear International. And look for a full update on the fate of a slew of corporate and industry scandals next week on Beyond Nuclear International.

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