CINCINNATI — Lawyers defending Larry Householder and Matt Borges wrapped up their cross-examination Friday of FBI agent Blane Wetzel in the pair’s political corruption trial. The former Ohio House Speaker and former Ohio Republican Party chairman face felony charges of racketeering, accused of taking millions in bribes in return for pushing through a nuclear power bailout bill.
Robert Glickman, Householder’s lawyer, countered some of FBI agent Blane Wetzel’s testimony from Thursday, when Wetzel said dark money paid for repairs on a home Householder owned in Florida. Instead, Glickman said lobbyist Jeffrey Longstreth loaned Householder the money and that Householder intended to repay him once the house sold. Glickman also questioned Wetzel about conversations he had with FBI informant Tyler Fehrman, asking if Wetzel had encouraged Fehrman to lie to Borges. Wetzel responded he did not.
Glickman presented a document from November 2018 — a few months before Householder was elected speaker — that showed FirstEnergy planned to lobby then-House speaker Ryan Smith, who eventually lost to Householder. Glickman corrected Wetzel on his earlier testimony when he named state representatives who he said had voted for Householder, but instead had voted for Smith.
Karl Schneider, Borges’ attorney, also questioned Wetzel and asked him if there were any emails or texts to prove their client knew about funding sources for Generation Now, the dark money group prosecutors say was a cover for bribery transactions. Wetzel said no; nor were there any texts tying Borges to House Bill 6.
Both Householder and Borges have pleaded not guilty. They each face up to 20 years in prison if they’re convicted.
