CINCINNATI — Former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder was sentenced to 20 years in prison Thursday following his conviction in the largest bribery scandal in state history.
U.S. District Court Judge Timothy Black’s ruling in Cincinnati comes three months after Householder’s conviction. He and former Ohio Republican Party Chairman Matt Borges had been charged in 2020 with a single count each of racketeering conspiracy for a $61 million bribery and money laundering scheme spanning from 2016 to 2020.
Judge Black rejected Householder’s request for permission to self-surrender.
“The court and the community’s patience with Larry Householder has expired,” he said, sending Householder immediately into custody. The facility holding Householder was not disclosed Thursday night.
And before Judge Black announced the sentence, he directly rebutted Householder’s pleas for leniency.
“Bottom line: you are a bully with a lust for power,” the judge said.
Householder had requested a 12 to 18-month sentence, while the prosecution had recommended 16 to 20 years. Borges, who will be sentenced Friday, asked for a one-year, one-day sentence, while the prosecution recommended five to eight years.
Householder’s sentence recommendation was longer because of his role in Akron-based utility giant FirstEnergy Corp’s successful attempt to seek a $1.3 billion consumer-paid bailout of two subsidiary-owned nuclear power plants, then owned by a FirstEnergy subsidiary. FirstEnergy had sought the bailout in exchange for funding Householder’s return to the speaker’s podium. In 2021, the utility giant admitted to bribery and paid a $230 million fine.
Sentencing memoranda from both Householder’s and the U.S. government’s attorneys were reviewed before the sentencing. They had been submitted alongside personal letters from Householder’s family and friends. Judge Black overturned most of the objections raised against a maximum sentence.
One of the main arguments for shortening Householder’s sentence was that he did not directly and personally benefit from the money.
The judge rejected this argument, stating that the bribery money was all ultimately from FirstEnergy even though it moved through different accounts. And while Householder didn’t spend bribery money on items like sports cars, he said Householder’s motivations were selfish all the same.
“It wasn’t just to line your pockets, it was to boost your ego,” Judge Black said.
The judge said he was most alarmed by the $1.3 billion FirstEnergy bailout.
“You know better than most people how much that money could have meant to the people of Ohio,” he said.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Glatfelter spoke of personal gains to Householder, noting that he “benefitted to the tune of $513,000” in addition to getting campaign money.
She compared Householder’s case to past cases, arguing that the 16-20 year sentence recommendation had precedent. She also questioned whether the damage to his loved ones constituted exceptional circumstances to mitigate his sentence. The attorney noted the broader political significance of the sentence.
“Sentencing will communicate that the rule of law applies to everyone, including politicians,” she said.
After Ms. Glatfelter spoke, Judge Black told her, “No one will ever accuse you of being not thorough.”
Householder’s attorney, Steven Bradley, emphasized that a 20-year sentence is “effectively a life sentence” for Householder, who is now 64.
“A sentence at or near statutory maximum gives no weight or consideration to good deeds and acts of the first 60 years of his life,” Mr. Bradley said. The judge interrupted, noting that the “harm to his family was caused by him, not the court.”
He added that Householder has already suffered publicly: “His reputation is in tatters. He is a disgraced politician. He has been dragged through the mud by the media.”
Householder was the last one to speak, reiterating the themes of personal virtue — as a father to his sons and late daughter, as a dedicated husband for 38 years, and as a community member. His concern, he said, was not for what the sentence meant to him but for his friends. He listed the order of his commitments as “faith, family, and friends.”
He noted that he served just 12 years in the Ohio House of his 30 years of public service, adding that “I always stepped aside” and “I wasn’t power hungry.”
But Judge Black condemned Householder for his lack of consideration of Ohio voters.
“One would think that growing up in a tight-knit community ... you would understand the struggles of others,” he said.
As Judge Black condemned Householder’s character, he quoted words he said he overheard in the courtroom during his trial: “’If you’re going to [expletive] with me I’m going to [expletive] with your kids,’ those were your words, I heard them,” he said.
In addition to the prison sentence, Judge Black sentenced Householder to a year of probation in which Householder won’t be allowed to file for credit or loans without the approval of his probation officer.
Judge Black said that, while he did not intend to make an example of Householder, he did need to consider the message his sentencing sent to others.
“The public needs to be able to trust its government,” he said.
Outside the courthouse, U.S. Attorney Kenneth Parker said, “We heard Mr. Householder indicate that he keeps close his faith, his family, and his friends. I would have added one more. He needs to keep close the Ohioans if he is going to serve this state.”
While no individuals from FirstEnergy have been charged in the bribery scandal, Mr. Parker said investigations of FirstEnergy are continuing.
“We’re gonna go there too if something’s there,” he said.
Householder and Borges plan to appeal their convictions. Borges’ sentencing will begin at 11 a.m. Friday.
First Published June 29, 2023, 6:36 p.m.
