COLUMBUS — Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has called for the resignation of Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder (R-Glenford) in the wake of his arrest in an alleged $60 million bribery scheme.
“I am deeply concerned about the allegations of wrongdoing in the criminal complaint issued today by the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” DeWine said in email Tuesday afternoon.
“Every American has the presumption of innocence until proven guilty. Because of the nature of these charges, it will be impossible for Speaker Householder to effectively lead the Ohio House of Representatives; therefore, I am calling on Speaker Householder to resign immediately,” the governor said.
“This is a sad day for Ohio,” DeWine said.
DeWine issued the statement after a news conference by U.S. Attorney David DeVillers in Columbus on Tuesday afternoon announcing a criminal complaint against Householder and four others.
Mathew Borges, 48, of Bexley, Jeffrey Longstreth, 44, of Columbus, Neil Clark, 67, of Columbus, and Juan Cespedes, 40, of Columbus, were also listed in the criminal complaint.
Generation Now, a corporate entity registered as a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization, was also charged.
The allegations state that those charged received approximately $60 million to pass and uphold a bill that funneled state funds to two failing nuclear power plants.
The group is charged with conspiring to violate a federal racketeering statute through wire fraud, receipt of millions of dollars in bribes, and money laundering.
According to the criminal complaint, from March 2017 to March 2020, the group received millions of dollars in exchange for the group’s help in passing House Bill 6, a billion-dollar law that included money given to two Ohio nuclear power plants in an effort to keep them open.
Borges is a lobbyist who once served as chair of the Ohio Republican Party. Longstreth, 44, of Columbus, is Householder’s longtime campaign and political strategist. Clark previously served as budget director for the Ohio Republican Caucus. Cespedes, 40, of Columbus, is a multi-client lobbyist,
Attorney General Dave Yost, like numerous other state leaders, also called for Householder to resign.
“Larry Householder sold out the people of Ohio in exchange for power and dirty money,” Yost said. “The 81-page sworn affidavit filed today shows plainly he cannot be trusted to act in the public interest, or trusted with public authority.
“He is entitled to a presumption of innocence regarding the criminality of his acts, but he is entitled to no presumption of continuance in office. He should resign immediately. If he refuses, the House should eject him under Article II, section 6 of the Ohio Constitution.”
Ohio Senate President Larry Obhof (R-Medina) also called for Householder to resign.
“The allegations made today are very detailed, they are very serious, and they are very troubling to me, and undoubtedly, to the people of Ohio,” Obhof said. “Every member of the Ohio legislature has a sacred trust with the citizens of this state, and the people deserve the honest services of their elected representatives.
“The seriousness and gravity of the allegations cast a dark shadow over the People’s House. It is clear that he cannot continue to lead the Ohio House of Representatives. He should resign.”
