BREAKING: Ohio utility company FirstEnergy signs deferred prosecution agreement with feds, including a $230 mil penalty for wire fraud and criminal forfeiture of $6.4 mil
~40 page stipulation of facts attached. Will update
FirstEnergy was the sole funder of dark money group Partners for Progress, which was used as a pass through between FirstEnergy and Gen Now (Householder's account)
Dan McCarthy, a principle to P4P, is now a top legislative aide to Gov. Mike DeWine
Larry Householder, before becoming Speaker, emailed wiring instructions to FirstEnergy executives for getting their money to Generation Now -- an entity he legally must be independent of
FirstEnergy paid eventual PUCO chairman Sam Randazzo's companies $22 million between 2010 and 2019, including $4.3 million right when he was appointed as PUCO chairman
Prosecutors aren't using the word "bribe" here, but these descriptions are coming awfully close
Under Randazzo's PUCO, Feds say the regulators scrapped a required rate review for 2024, boosting FirstEnergy's revenue forecasts
uh.
who is "Federal Official 1" at this "presidential roundtable" in August 2018
hard to be sure but this looks like Wayne Boich, coal guy, who donated $100k to Gen Now (dispatch.com/story/news/pol…) and a 501c3 solely funded by AEP, which gave $700k
What a text thread between Speaker Householder and two top FirstEnergy executives after House Bill 6 passed
"We made a bbiiiiiiiig bet and it paid off. Actually, 2 big bets. Congrats to you and the entire team!"
This is new: In 2020, with HB 6 in the rear view, First Energy made $2 million in payments through Partners For Progress and Generation Now to push Householder's "term limit" proposal that could allow him an extended tenure as Speaker
Randazzo details. While taking FirstEnergy's money as a consultant, he -- representing heavy duty industry interests which can clash with FirstEnergy's -- agreed to back off FE in a PUCO case
FirstEnergy had no legal obligation to pay Randazzo the final $4.3 million on his contract.
But then their execs had a private meeting with him and began pushing for him to run PUCO.
That payment eventually went through
House Bill 6 passes.
A FirstEnergy exec photoshops Randazzo's face on Mount Rushmore alongside energy execs and lobbyists. Text:
"HB 6 FUCK ANYBODY WHO AINT US.”
Randazzo commented that his picture was smaller than the others and then responded, “funny.”
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Caveat: this bill has been amended since I wrote this story, there have been negotiations for a while on other amendments, and we're talking about more amendments. So consider details fluid.
Reporter asked about his request to anti-vaccine group to help him "stop this vaccine shit."
"Until we have the proper studies, and understand what we're putting in our body, we've got to slow it down."
He said in April to Health Freedom Ohio members: “We’re gonna face a couple bills that this group does not like. And I have to have energy to stop this vaccine shit that’s coming.” ohiocapitaljournal.com/2020/08/19/amo…
Nothing like the why-are-you-asking-me-this-not-that defense. He ends the interview and walks off shortly thereafter
ODH Director Dr. Acton: armed protest outside home + at least one Proud Boy
Senate President Obhof: armed protest outside home + Proud Boys
ODH Director McCloud: protest outside home, likely at least one open carrier
Gov. DeWine; ^same ohiocapitaljournal.com/2021/01/27/pan…
On Tuesday, protesters (at least 2 armed) gathered outside personal home of Deborah Pryce — a former Republican congresswoman who now serves as chairwoman of the Ohio Liquor Control Commission.
True story about Derek Evans: Elizabeth Warren came to Southern WV in May 2019 to campaign. I was there, in the middle of interviewing a woman about wealth inequality, when Evans, FB living it, interrupted to shout questions at one of us about abortion wvmetronews.com/2021/01/08/man…
Evans has a restraining order against him from staff at the abortion clinic for alleged stalking. Everyone in West Virginia knew this guy was toxic wvgazettemail.com/news/legal_aff…
Would really like to hear from @MooreCapitoWV why the WV RLC gave Evans financial support.
(WV House is 77-23 to the GOP. Votes aren't tight.)
Also, what will lawmakers do with an alleged criminal set to serve in the House Republican caucus?