Top Ohio politician and lobbyists facing charges for $60 million racketeering scheme

Federal prosecutors in Cincinnati have charged Ohio House of Representatives Speaker Larry Householder with conspiracy to commit racketeering. The charges are in connection to a nuclear bailout bill Householder pushed through the state legislature in 2019.

Householder, a Republican, faces up to 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. 

Charged alongside Householder are Matt Borges, the former Ohio Republican Party Chair, who is now a lobbyist, as well as lobbyists Neil Clark and Juan Cespedes, and Jeff Longstreth, an aide to Householder.

The five men made their first appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie Bowman on Tuesday, via video. A preliminary hearing, at which more details of the case will likely become available, was set for August 6. 

Prosecutors did not seek a monetary bond for any of the men, though the judge ordered each of them to surrender their firearms and to remain in the Southern District of Ohio – barring Householder, a top Ohio politician, from traveling around the state for meetings with lobbyists and politicians. Bowman also banned the men from interacting with the other defendants or potential witnesses.

The U.S. Attorney's Office in Columbus has called the case a "public corruption racketeering conspiracy involving $60 million."