Ohio Democratic Ads Connect Husted to Bribery Scandal, Despite No Charges of Wrongdoing

Democratic ads in the Ohio Senate race are targeting Republican Sen. Jon Husted by linking him to the FirstEnergy bribery scandal surrounding the 2019 nuclear-power bailout law, House Bill 6 (HB6). While Husted supported the legislation and received campaign contributions from entities tied to FirstEnergy, he has not been accused or charged with wrongdoing in the scandal that led to federal charges and convictions for others, including former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder.

The scandal, which involved approximately $61 million in bribes to shepherd HB6 through the Legislature, resulted in Householder's 20-year federal prison sentence. FirstEnergy paid $230 million in penalties in a 2021 settlement. The ads, funded by Democratic groups and Sen. Sherrod Brown's campaign, imply Husted's direct involvement in the bribery, stating he was FirstEnergy's "golden boy" and that the bailout cost Ohioans thousands on electricity bills. Husted's campaign spokesperson, Amy Natoce, called the ads "baseless lies," asserting Husted focused on diversifying Ohio's energy base and saving nuclear power plants to keep costs low. She also noted Husted testified to ensure justice.

Experts like Noah Dormady, an associate professor of energy policy at Ohio State University, have indicated that while HB6 played some role, increased demand from data centers and international conflicts are larger culprits for rising electricity costs in Ohio. The average monthly electricity bill in Ohio increased from $89.19 in October 2019 to $144.47 in January. Husted recently introduced legislation to propose standards that would require data centers, rather than customers, to pay for their electricity generation and infrastructure costs. Meanwhile, legal proceedings continue with former FirstEnergy executives Jones and Dowling, who were recently indicted again by a federal grand jury after a state trial resulted in a hung jury.