Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder arrested in $60 million bribery case
The U.S. Attorney will speak this afternoon regarding what is being called ‘a public corruption racketeering conspiracy.’
Federal officials arrested Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder and several others on Tuesday in connection with a $60 million bribery case.
U.S. Attorney David DeVillers’ office would not discuss details of the case, but multiple sources confirmed Householder’s arrest.
Former Ohio GOP Chairman Matt Borges, longtime Householder adviser Jeff Longstreth, and lobbyists Neil Clark and Juan Cespedes also were arrested, the sources confirmed.
All are expected appear in video arraignment in US District Court in Columbus today.
DeVillers’ Office and the FBI plan to announce charges later today in the case, which a press release said involves a state official and “associates.”
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federal bribery case – Larry Householder
FBI agents and sheriff’s deputies have raided Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder’s farm in the Perry County Village of Glenford, bureau sources confirm to 3News. The Cincinnati Enquirer reports the speaker has since been arrested in connection to what the U.S. Department of Justice is calling a “$60 million bribe to [a] state official and associates.”
According to a media alert prepared by the DOJ, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio David M. DeVillers and FBI Special Agent in Charge Chris Hoffman will speak at 2:30 regarding an investigation into “a public corruption racketeering conspiracy.” Householder’s name was not mentioned, but officials clarified to us that today’s law enforcement presence is indeed related.
Besides Householder, The Enquirer reports former Ohio Republican Party Chairman Matt Borges has been arrested as well. Borges was ousted three years ago following the election of President Donald Trump and has since organized a Super PAC in support of current Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.
The FBI could not specifically confirm the arrests, but did say any persons arrested today would appear at U.S. District Court in Columbus at 1:30 p.m. this afternoon. 3News plans to stream these appearances live.
Householder’s office could not be reached for comment. In response to the impending remarks from the U.S. Attorney, Gov. Mike DeWine has postponed his regular 2 p.m. coronavirus press briefing until Wednesday.
