HB 6 Scandal: Ohio Can Seize Assets Of Former Utilities Chairman

COLUMBUS, OH — State officials are seizing up to $8 million in assets from Sam Randazzo, the former chairman of the Public Utility Commission of Ohio, who is now embroiled in the House Bill 6 scandal.

“First Energy admitted to bribing Randazzo to the tune of $4.3 million to help construct House Bill 6, and he should be accountable for those actions,” Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said in a statement. “Randazzo is making moves that will make it harder to hold him financially accountable for accepting bribes. As the federal investigation continues, we need to make sure that his assets are available for recovery when his time comes to pay.”

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, including Randazzo.

On Thursday, Yost obtained a court order allowing the state to seize or freeze the former chairman's assets.

Randazzo has consistently denied wrongdoing during the House Bill 6 investigation and fallout.

Read more: FirstEnergy Hit With Wire Fraud Accusation, Will Pay $230 Million

What Happened

In November 2020, the FBI searched Randazzo's home as it launched its investigation into House Bill 6

Randazzo resigned his position with the utility commission in Nov. 2020 after the FBI searched his home as part of an investigation into the House Bill 6 bribery scandal.

Since February, Yost said, Randazzo has transferred a $500,000 home to his son and sold four other properties worth a combined $4.8 million.

Last week, Yost added Randazzo, former FirstEnergy CEO Charles Jones, and former FirstEnergy Vice President Michael Dowling to a racketeering lawsuit over House Bill 6.

To prevent further asset movement, Yost got a prejudgement attachment from the Franklin County Court of Common pleas on Thursday allowing the state to freeze Randazzo's assets and prevent future transfers or sales of property.

“If Sam Randazzo is innocent as he claims, we’ll expect that he’ll fully cooperate, and that we’ll be able to locate the funds easily,” the attorney general said.

Additional reading:

• Ohio Governor Won't Say He Regrets Picking Regulator Now At The Center Of Historic Utility Scandal