Federal government rests its case in ex-Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder's racketeering trial

The national authorities rested its lawsuit Monday successful erstwhile Republican Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder's racketeering proceedings aft presenting jurors pinch reams of financial documents, emails, texts, wire-tap audio and firsthand accounts of what prosecutors allege was a $60 cardinal bribery strategy to walk a $1 cardinal ratepayer-funded atomic bailout.

The prosecution completed its activity successful U.S. District Court successful Cincinnati 5 weeks to nan time aft opening statements successful Ohio's largest ever corruption case. Their information took a spot longer than projected because a spate of illnesses deed nan courtroom, prompting Judge Timothy Black to region proceedings.

Lawyers for Householder, 63, and co-defendant Matt Borges, 50, a lobbyist and erstwhile authorities chair of nan Ohio Republican Party, went instantly to activity to statesman their defense, calling authorities Sen. Bill Seitz to attest connected nan merits of nan bailout measure astatine nan case's heart.

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Householder, erstwhile 1 of Ohio's astir powerful politicians, could attest connected his ain behalf. He has said he couldn't hold for his defense to begin.

Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder sits astatine nan caput of a legislative convention successful Columbus, Ohio, connected Oct. 30, 2019. The national authorities rested its lawsuit successful Householder's racketeering proceedings connected Feb. 27, 2023. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)

It's been two-and-a-half years since Householder, Borges and 3 others were arrested and charged successful an elaborate scheme, secretly funded by Akron-based FirstEnergy Corp., to unafraid Householder’s power, elite his allies, walk authorities containing a $1 cardinal bailout for 2 aging nuclear powerfulness plants, and past vex a ballot effort to overturn nan measure pinch a soiled tricks campaign.

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The prosecution called 2 of those arrested — Juan Cespedes and Jeff Longstreth, who person some pleaded blameworthy — to nan guidelines to springiness firsthand accounts of what they said are not mean governmental contributions, but bribes intended to unafraid transition of nan bailout bill, known arsenic House Bill 6. Householder's attorneys person described his activities arsenic thing much than hardball politics.

Monday's witness, governmental operative Tyler Fehrman, testified that Borges tried to bribe him pinch a $15,000 cheque to unafraid wrong accusation astir nan referendum run connected nan measure that he was moving for astatine nan time. Borges' attorneys person said nan money was a indebtedness for a friend successful need.

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"Matt’s requests to maine were shocking," Fehrman told jurors. "I felt for illustration I was being taken advantage of by personification I trusted."