Investigate DeWine's Staff's Role In House Bill 6: Politicians

COLUMBUS, OH — Two state lawmakers want a formal investigation into Gov. Mike DeWine and his staff for their involvement in the drafting and passing of the nuclear bailout bill, House Bill 6.

House Bill 6 provided a $1.3 billion bailout for two FirstEnergy nuclear plants (now Energy Harbor plants) in Ohio. The legislation is now at the heart of a racketeering investigation involving former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder and other political figures. FirstEnergy has since admitted wrongdoing in the case and agreed to pay $230 million in fines as part of a deferred prosecution agreement.

State Rep. Jeffrey Crossman, a Democrat from Parma, and state Rep. Casey Weinstein, a Democrat from Hudson, filed a formal complaint Thursday with the Ohio Inspector General initiating the investigation.

The Ohio Inspector General's office is obligated to investigate state officials and employees who may have committed wrongful acts. After the investigation, if wrongdoing is found, a report may be filed to prosecutors for criminal prosecution.

Weinstein and Crossman asked the inspector general to investigate Dan McCarthy, Laurel Dawson, Michael Hall, Anne Vogel, Sam Randazzo and Scott Elisar. State officials already requested permission to seize up to $8 million in assets from Randazzo, the former Public Utilities Commission of Ohio chairman. Randazzo is accused of accepting payments from FirstEnergy to work on their behalf, but has consistently denied any wrongdoing.

“About a month ago we called upon Gov. DeWine to be honest and transparent with Ohioans regarding his participation in the corrupt nuclear bailout bill. To date, he has not done so," Crossman said in a statement. “Ohioans need to know how their government passed such a corrupt piece of legislation and why Gov. DeWine defended it. We take our responsibility to hold corrupt public officials accountable for their actions very seriously, even if Gov. DeWine does not.”

However, DeWine's team countered that Crossman and Weinstein's allegations were part of a political stunt.

"These allegations are political, misleading, and not actually based in the facts of this case. They have no merit," said Dan Tierney, a spokesperson for DeWine's office.

The Accusations

Besides Randazzo, here's who Crossman's and Weinstein's letter accused of possible misconduct:

• Dan McCarthy, director of legislative affairs — A former FirstEnergy lobbyist and president of Partners for Progress, Inc., Weinstein and Crossman noted. They note that Partners for Progress may have received $5 million from FirstEnergy, according to court documents filed in criminal investigations.
• Laurel Dawson, former chief of staff for DeWine, current advisor to the governor — Crossman and Weinstein accuse her of being linked to former FirstEnergy lobbyist Josh Rubin, through business endeavors, and argue her husband has been a long-time consultant for FirstEnergy. The legislators further claims she was aware of a $4.3 million payment from FirstEnergy to PUCO Chair Sam Randazzo, but failed to disclose the payment to DeWine until after Randazzo's home was raided by the FBI.
• Michael Hall, former director of policy for DeWine, current chief of staff for the governor — Crossman and Weinstein said Hall was listed as an attendee at a meeting with AEP leadership and DeWine, and AEP has been implicated in the scandal due to its association with Empowering Ohio's Economy.
• Anne Vogel, assistant policy director for DeWine — One of DeWine's lead policy directors on energy and a former attorney with AEP, Weinstein and Crossman argue she was linked to gifts from Empowering Ohio's Economy, a group implicated in the House Bill 6 scandal.
• Scott Elisar, legislative and policy director for PUCO — When former Sam Randazzo resigned from the PUCO Nominating Council, because he submitted his own name to be chair, Larry Householder appointed Elisar to fill Randazzo's vacancy. Randazzo then hired Elisar to serve as PUCO's legislative and policy director.

More fallout from the House Bill 6 scandal:

• HB 6 Scandal: Ohio Can Seize Assets Of Former Utilities Chairman
• FirstEnergy Hit With Wire Fraud Accusation, Will Pay $230 Million
• Ohio Governor Won't Say He Regrets Picking Regulator Now At The Center Of Historic Utility Scandal

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A spokesperson for the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio declined to comment on the investigation.

Here's a copy of Weinstein's and Crossman's complaint to the Ohio Inspector General.