When Donald Trump took office, he made promises to “drain the swamp,” which was supposed to mean something about getting big money out of politics but has turned into firing anyone who dares criticize him. Perhaps Trump should have started by cleaning his own house, because Republicans haven’t quite gotten the corrupt president’s message about ending corruption.
#BREAKING: FBI agents are at Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder’s farm https://t.co/ejbpHO6NLp
— Dayton Daily News (@daytondailynews) July 21, 2020
Rep. Larry Householder (R-OH) was already a contentious figure with some legal scandals under his belt when he ran for Ohio’s state congress in 2006. An earlier 2004 investigation into corrupt practices involving Householder and aides who allegedly “took kickbacks from vendors and traded legislation for campaign contributions,” had ended and Householder staged a political comeback. This time, he has more than allegations and an investigation to worry about.
‘Federal officials arrested Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder and four others on Tuesday morning in connection with a $60 million bribery case…A spokeswoman for DeVillers said an Ohio official and associates were charged in the case, which she described as a “public corruption racketeering conspiracy involving $60 million.” DeVillers has scheduled a 2:30 p.m. press conference to discuss the case.’
“Federal officials arrested OH House Speaker Larry Householder (R) in connection with a $60-M bribery case.
“Former OH GOP Chairman Matt Borges, longtime Householder adviser Jeff Longstreth, and lobbyists Neil Clark and Juan Cespedes also were arrested.” https://t.co/X9iYCY7EGa
— John Harwood (@JohnJHarwood) July 21, 2020
In a domino fall resembling Watergate on a smaller, state-level scale, Householder was arrested for allegations stemming from his connection to lobbyists and $60 million in bribes, which has earned him an investigation into a RICO case, making it a case of organized crime.
‘Also arrested, according to the source: Neil Clark, founder of Grant Street Consultants and once called by USA Today “one of the best-connected lobbyists in Columbus;” former Ohio Republican Party chair and consultant Matthew Borges; Juan Cespedes, co-founder of The Oxley Group in Columbus; and Jeffrey Longstreth, adviser to Householder.’
OHIO HOUSE LEADER ARRESTED FOR $60 MILLION PUBLIC CORRUPTION RICO CASE ALONGSIDE LOBBYISTS, Ex-CHAIR OF OHIO GOP https://t.co/1Hhs1gpTSL
— Eric Garland (@ericgarland) July 21, 2020
While prosecutors could not pinpoint a case against him in 2004, it appears their suspicions about Householder 16 years ago may have been right all along. Like the president and leader of his party, the Republican House Speaker in Ohio is another member of a deep and ugly swamp.
‘He first served as Ohio’s House speaker from 2001 to 2004. The FBI launched an investigation in 2004 into allegations that Householder and his aides took kickbacks from vendors and traded legislation for campaign contributions. The investigation ended in 2006 with no charges filed.’
The FBI is raiding the farm of the sitting speaker of the Ohio House, Larry Householder https://t.co/ZjaP0NW2Ew…
It’s investigating $60MM in corruption connected to Ohio’s bailout of its coal & nuclear plants, the Toledo Blade reports: https://t.co/bBiOMBoMUW
— Robinson Meyer (@yayitsrob) July 21, 2020
Featured image screenshot via YouTube
