COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – Closing statements will be made before a jury Tuesday in the trial of former Ohio House Speaker Larry…
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The jury will make closing statements in the trial on Tuesday. ex-speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives, Larry Householder and lobbyist Matt Borges, where both Republicans are accused of participating in a A $60 million bribe scheme in what federal prosecutors are calling the largest corruption case in state history.
The government alleges that Householder orchestrated a scheme funded by Akron-based FirstEnergy Corp. to win the speakership, elect allies in the legislature and then pass and defend a $1 billion nuclear bailout program to benefit the power company. Borges is accused of trying to bribe an operative who was working to repeal the aid law.
Both are charged with conspiracy to commit racketeering, bribery and money laundering, which carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison. Both pleaded not guilty and maintain their innocence.
The six-week trial came 2 1/2 years after Householder, Borges and three others were arrested in the case.
Prosecutors called an FBI agent, who briefed jurors on the highlights of thousands of pages of transcripts, then showed them secretly recorded conversations and questioned first-hand participants of key events related to the alleged scheme.
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