US EditionTrial of ex-FirstEnergy executives charged in $60M Ohio bribery scheme set to begin
Former FirstEnergy executives face charges including racketeering and bribery over a $4.3 million payment linked to Ohio House Bill 6, with trial expected to last months.
- Two former FirstEnergy executives, Chuck Jones and Michael Dowling, face felony corruption charges for allegedly orchestrating payments to regulator Sam Randazzo in exchange for favors.
- Federal prosecutors claim FirstEnergy funded an elaborate bribery plot involving the Ohio House Speaker to pass a $1 billion nuclear plant bailout and defeat its repeal.
- FirstEnergy admitted using dark money groups to fund the plot, a jury convicted the House Speaker, and Randazzo died by suicide after pleading not guilty to charges.
40 Articles
40 Articles
‘They bought people.’ Opening arguments begin in FirstEnergy corruption trial
Defendants Michael Dowling and Chuck Jones wait for the start of their trial in Summit County Court of Common Pleas Judge Susan Baker Ross's courtroom on Feb. 3, 2026. (Photo by Mike Cardew- Pool/Akron Beacon Journal)During opening statements on Tuesday, tensions ran high as the state argued that utility giant FirstEnergy’s former executives defrauded Ohioans by bribing a public official to help their struggling company. The defense is blaming a…
'They bought people' — Opening arguments begin in FirstEnergy corruption trial
During opening statements on Tuesday, tensions ran high as the state argued that utility giant FirstEnergy's former executives defrauded Ohioans by bribing a public official to help their struggling company. The defense is blaming a dead man for any wrongdoing.In a packed courtroom in Summit County, jurors were told the next six weeks would unfold like a "movie.""It's about greed," Assistant Attorney General Matthew Meyer said. "It's about corpo…
Associated Press News
Trial of ex-FirstEnergy executives charged in $60M Ohio bribery scheme set to begin
The $4.3 million that Akron-based FirstEnergy paid veteran utility lawyer Sam Randazzo in 2019 is at the center of the latest criminal trial tied to Ohio's sweeping $60 million bribery scandal.
Evidence fight threatens to delay FirstEnergy bribery trial
Defense attorneys call prosecutorial tactics "extremely disturbing" as the state insists emails sent by Sam Randazzo two hours after speaking with Michael Dowling are essential to proving the $4.3 million bribery scheme.
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