Ohio Senator Husted to Testify in FirstEnergy Corruption Case

Republican U.S. Senator Jon Husted from Ohio will provide remote testimony Wednesday as a defense witness in the corruption trial of two former FirstEnergy executives. The case involves a $60 million bribery scheme that included a $1 billion nuclear plant bailout.

AKRON, Ohio — Ohio Republican U.S. Senator Jon Husted will appear via remote testimony this Wednesday in the ongoing corruption trial involving two former FirstEnergy Corporation executives.

Husted will serve as a defense witness for former chief executive Chuck Jones and former company lobbyist Michael Dowling. His testimony is expected to verify details from numerous meetings, email exchanges, and text messages that have been referenced throughout the five-week trial proceedings where his name has appeared. No allegations of misconduct have been made against Husted.

The senator’s court appearance occurs during a contentious election season as he campaigns to retain his Senate position this fall. Husted received the appointment last year following JD Vance’s departure from the seat. His anticipated opponent is Democrat Sherrod Brown, who previously served three terms as senator before losing his 2024 reelection campaign.

During early 2019, when Husted held the position of lieutenant governor-elect, federal prosecutors claim Jones and Dowling provided bribes to Ohio’s incoming utility regulator, Sam Randazzo, who has since passed away. The alleged payments were made in exchange for favorable legislation and regulatory decisions, including support for a $1 billion rescue package for two nuclear facilities connected to FirstEnergy. This bailout became central to a broader $60 million corruption scandal that led to the current prosecutions. Former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder, who orchestrated the scheme, is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence.

On December 18, 2018, Governor-elect Mike DeWine and Husted joined Jones, Dowling, and Josh Rubin for dinner at Columbus’s historic Athletic Club. DeWine later selected Randazzo to lead Ohio’s Public Utilities Commission. Earlier that same day, Rubin — who worked as both a FirstEnergy lobbyist and advisor to the 2018 DeWine-Husted campaign — had counseled the executives on strategies for influencing DeWine regarding their preferred candidate to head the utilities commission, according to text messages included in the criminal filing.

Rubin advised the executives against informing DeWine about their planned visit to Randazzo’s home following the dinner. That evening, Randazzo sent Dowling a text message containing financial figures spanning 2019 through 2024: “Total 4,333,333.” Dowling responded: “Got it, Sam. Good seeing you as well. Thanks for the hospitality. Cool condo.”

The following day brought another exchange between Jones and Randazzo. Jones wrote: “We’re going to get this handled this year, paid in full, no discount. Don’t forget about us or Hurricane Chuck may show up on your doorstep! Of course, no guarantee he won’t show up sometime anyway.”

Randazzo’s reply stated: “Made me laugh — you guys are welcome anytime and anywhere I can open the door. Let me know how you want me to structure the invoices. Thanks.”

Randazzo was facing both state and federal criminal charges related to his involvement in the corruption scheme when he died by suicide in April 2024.