Ex-Ohio state House Speaker, imprisoned in corruption case, indicted on new charges

Former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder (R), who was imprisoned for leading a corruption scheme last year, has now been indicted on new charges. 

Householder faces 10 new felony counts after being indicted Monday by a county grand jury. 

The new counts include allegations of ethics violations, misuse of campaign funds and theft in office, which could ban him from being an elected official 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,” Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said in a statement. “State crimes have state penalties, and a conviction will ensure that there will be no more comebacks from the ‘Comeback Kid.’”

Householder, 64, faces one count of theft in office, one count of telecommunications fraud, two counts of aggravated theft, five counts of tampering with records and one count of money laundering. 

Householder’s lawyer, Steven Bradley said Monday he has not spoken to Householder yet, but “we hope to do that soon and will determine how to best proceed,” according to The Associated Press. 

Last June, Householder was sentenced to 20 years in prison for leading a $61 million corruption scheme. Utility company FirstEnergy had sought to get legislation passed that would be friendly to the Akron-based company, including a $1.3 billion taxpayer-funded bailout of two nuclear plants in the Buckeye State. 

FirstEnergy had to pay a $230 million fine for its involvement in the bribery case. Some of the executives were fired. Former Ohio GOP Chair Matt Borges was also found guilty on racketeering charges. 

Householder served two separate terms as Speaker.