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COLUMBUS, Ohio — Nearly a year since he was arrested on federal racketeering charges, state lawmakers on both sides of the aisle taking action against former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder, R-Glenford.

Ohio House Democrats and Republicans have filed separate resolutions to expel Householder from the Ohio House of Representatives.​

The Democrats officially introduced their resolution Wednesday morning, a day after House Republicans also sent in their paperwork calling for his job.

When asked if he had anything to say resolutions, Householder smiled and said, “Let the process play out.”

The process officially began Tuesday when House Democrats announced they would no longer stand idly by.

“When we announced this event yesterday to discuss our filing a resolution to expel Larry Householder, we suspected it might finally trigger the Republicans to file their own resolution and from what we understand it did just that. If that’s the case, we’re glad,” said Rep. Jeffrey Crossman, D-Parma.

Crossman and Reps. Michele Lepore-Hagan, D-Youngstown, and Allison Russo, D-Upper Arlington, are leading the charge for the Democrats. Crossman said Householder can still have his day in court, but his professional conduct is unbefitting of a state representative. 

“In our view, the conduct that triggered the indictment around House Bill 6 is sufficient enough to justify a charge of disorderly conduct to support expulsion,” Crossman said.

Prosecutors said Householder was the ringleader in a $61-million bribery scheme to pass and defend House Bill 6, the taxpayer-funded bailout of two nuclear power plants in Ohio, along with getting himself elected speaker.

Crossman and Republican Rep. Mark Fraizer, R-Newark, had been discussing a bipartisan resolution for weeks, but Crossman said he never had any indication Republicans were serious about moving forward.

However, after word dropped Tuesday the Democrats were proceeding on their own, Fraizer and fellow Republican Brian Stewart, R-Ashville, filed a separate resolution.

“I came out in March and said I was expecting to have the vote imminently and here we are in May, here we are with summer break looming at the end of June after the budget and we want to make sure that we have the ability to vote,” said Fraizer.

Fraizer said he believes if a vote takes place, Householder’s fate would be sealed.

“I expect that there’s going to be 80 affirmative votes on the House floor. That’s been my prediction for a long time. And so that includes the 35 Democrats and a majority of the Republican caucus,” Fraizer said.

When asked what he would say to those that do not vote to expel Householder, Fraizer said, “You have to justify your vote.”

House Majority Floor Leader Bill Seitz, R-Cincinnati, has been firm in his stance against expulsion because he said Householder is innocent until proven guilty.

“There’s no disorderly conduct,” said Seitz. “If they want to make an issue out of the pending indictment, the proper procedural route would be impeachment.”

Seitz also said he does not see any issue with taxpayer dollars continuing to pay Householder while he is under federal indictment.

Neither of the resolutions made it to the House floor Wednesday.

“Obviously, we’re going to try to determine what the best process forward is,” said House Speaker Robert Cupp, R-Lima, who had not provided updates on Householder’s status for months. “On this, as you know, this has not occurred in Ohio, as far as we know, for at least a century.”

The resolutions each now have 45 days to be assigned to a committee.​​ Then, if it does not move out of committee for 30 days, lawmakers could circulate a petition to bring it to the House floor.

It would take 66 votes to expel Householder, who has maintained his innocence when it comes to the criminal charges against him.