COLUMBUS, Ohio — The nation’s highest court has rejected the final appeal attempt by two Ohio political figures convicted in one of the state’s largest corruption scandals involving $60 million in bribes.
On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to review the federal racketeering convictions of former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder and former lobbyist Matt Borges. This decision maintains a May ruling from a three-judge panel at the 6th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in Cincinnati, which had previously rejected the pair’s appeal efforts.
Federal prosecutors successfully convicted both men in March 2023 following an extensive investigation and a trial lasting more than six weeks.
Householder, currently 66 years old, received a 20-year prison term for orchestrating an elaborate corruption network. The scheme involved illegal funding from FirstEnergy Corp., headquartered in Akron, to help elect political allies, consolidate power, and push through House Bill 6 — legislation providing a $1 billion rescue package for two nuclear power facilities connected to the utility company. The conspiracy also included efforts to protect the controversial bill from repeal attempts.
Borges, age 53 and a former Ohio Republican Party chairman, was sentenced to five years behind bars for his role in sabotaging efforts to overturn the legislation. Prison records show he was transferred to a Cincinnati halfway house in October and is scheduled for release on November 12.
