Attorney general, former lawmakers subpoenaed to testify in public corruption trial of ex-House Speaker Larry Householder

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The state attorney general and several former lawmakers have received word of government subpoenas compelling them to appear at the upcoming criminal trial of Ohio’s former House Speaker.

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost confirmed Thursday he has not yet received a subpoena but was told one would be arriving shortly.

Rep. Kyle Koehler, a Republican lawmaker whose term ended with the new year, said in an interview he has also received word of the subpoena but hasn’t gotten a hard copy through the mail. Former Rep. Dave Greenspan, a GOP lawmaker who lost his reelection bid in 2020, also said he’s been notified of a forthcoming subpoena.

The subpoenas were issued in connection with the upcoming criminal trial for former GOP House Speaker Larry Householder on a charge of racketeering. Prosecutors allege Householder secretly controlled a nonprofit that received about $60 million from FirstEnergy Corp. through a spread of affiliated nonprofits. He allegedly used the funds for personal use, political gain, and to help pass legislation worth an estimated $1.3 billion to the Akron-based utility.

Yost, as attorney general, presided over a messy fight between proponents and opponents of repealing the legislation via referendum after it was signed into law. Yost approved proposed ballot language from those seeking to block the legislation. However, those backers criticized Yost for taking weeks to certify their proposed language as time ran out to correct signatures before key deadlines.

The Columbus Dispatch first reported on subpoenas of Yost, Koehler and Greenspan, as well as that of former GOP lawmaker Sen. Jay Hottinger. Greenspan voted against the bill and has since acknowledged that he provided information to the FBI as the bill passed. Hottinger supported the legislation. All are appearing on the government’s behalf.

Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer has reached out to Hottinger.

Several lawmakers close to the legislation in question have said they have not been subpoenaed.

For instance, Rep. Jamie Callender, who sponsored HB6, said Tuesday he has not received any subpoena. (His cosponsor, then-Rep. Shane Wilkin, couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.)

Rep. Jay Edwards, a close ally of Householder’s, said in a text message he has not received a subpoena. He reportedly attended a meeting in Columbus cited by prosecutors along with Householder and Neil Clark, one of the alleged conspirators in the case. Also at the meeting, according to an interview with Clark and trial transcripts from another public corruption case, were two undercover FBI agents posing as real estate developers.

Gov. Mike DeWine – who signed HB6, received major campaign funding from FirstEnergy entities, and whose administration helped push the legislation through the General Assembly – said Thursday he has not received a subpoena.

Correction: Edwards met with the alleged conspirators and undercover agents at dinner in Columbus, not Nashville.

Jake Zuckerman covers state politics and policy. Read more of his work here.