The Supreme Court won’t hear appeals linked to Ohio’s utility bribery scandal. (Canary Media)
The context: FirstEnergy admitted to bribing former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder to secure legislation to subsidize aging coal and nuclear plants—ultimately costing ratepayers roughly half a billion. Householder and lobbyist Matt Borges are the only people involved in the scheme to have served prison time (under federal RICO charges).
These men appealed the decision to the Supreme Court last December, claiming they had protection under the First Amendment. The Justice Department’s recent response? The Constitution doesn’t cover a financial quid pro quo. The Supreme Court, meanwhile, didn’t explain why it turned down the request on Monday.
Worth watching: Householder’s legal team says it might seek a presidential pardon to secure his release. And the broader legal fallout remains active, with two FirstEnergy execs scheduled for a state retrial this Sep. following a deadlocked jury in March.