The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld the racketeering convictions of former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder and ex-lobbyist Matt Borges in a $60 million bribery scheme, ending their final avenue for appeal.
Householder, a Republican who served as speaker from 2019 to 2021, was convicted of masterminding an illicitly funded campaign operation by Akron-based FirstEnergy Corp. The scheme aimed to elect his allies, secure political power, pass a $1 billion bailout of two nuclear plants through House Bill 6, and defeat a repeal effort against the legislation. He was sentenced in March 2023 to 20 years in federal prison.
Borges, who previously served as chair of the Ohio Republican Party, received a five-year sentence for his role in working to undermine the campaign to repeal House Bill 6. He was released to a halfway house in Cincinnati last October and is scheduled for full release on November 12, according to the Bureau of Prisons.
The high court's ruling leaves in place a unanimous decision by a three-judge panel of the 6th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in Cincinnati from last May. Householder and Borges had appealed after the lower court denied their requests for an en banc hearing before all active judges.
What the Left Is Saying
Democratic lawmakers and government accountability advocates have pointed to the case as a landmark example of corporate money corrupting state politics. Ohio Democratic Party officials said the ruling demonstrates that no elected official is above the law, regardless of their position or party affiliation.
Government reform groups argued that House Bill 6 represented one of the most significant examples of dark money influencing legislative outcomes in modern American history. They noted that the scheme operated for years before being exposed by federal investigators, highlighting what they described as gaps in state-level disclosure requirements.
Ohio ethics advocates said the case underscores the need for stricter campaign finance rules at the state level to prevent utilities and other corporations from using ratepayer money to influence legislation affecting their industries.
What the Right Is Saying
Householder's attorney, Scott Pullins, issued a statement calling it "a sad day" for both families and "even a sadder day for free speech and the rule of law." He argued that lower courts have asked the Supreme Court for years to clarify its rulings on campaign finance and racketeering statutes without success.
Republican legal commentators who supported the appeal said the case raised important questions about how federal prosecutors apply RICO statutes to political donations. They noted that Householder's attorneys had sought clearer guidance on the distinction between illegal bribery and legitimate political fundraising.
Borges' supporters have highlighted his cooperation with investigators after his conviction and his expressed remorse for his actions. Some Ohio Republican officials said they view Borges as having paid a significant price and deserving of an opportunity to rebuild his career in the private sector.
What the Numbers Show
Householder was sentenced to 20 years (240 months) in federal prison for racketeering, wire fraud, and related charges.
Borges received a 5-year sentence and has been serving time in a halfway house since October. He is scheduled for full release on November 12.
The scheme involved approximately $60 million routed through dark money entities controlled by FirstEnergy Corp., according to federal prosecutors.
House Bill 6 provided $1 billion in subsidies to two nuclear power plants owned by Energy Harbor, formerly FirstEnergy Solutions.
A federal jury convicted both men after a more than six-week trial in March 2023 following a yearslong investigation by the FBI and U.S. Department of Justice.
The Bottom Line
With their Supreme Court appeal denied, Householder and Borges have exhausted all legal options at the federal level. Householder's attorney said he will now return to seeking a presidential pardon as his only remaining path to early release from prison.
The case represents one of the largest successful prosecutions of public corruption in Ohio history and serves as a significant test of federal racketeering statutes applied to political fundraising schemes. It remains unclear whether the Trump administration would consider granting clemency, though Householder's team indicated that seeking executive action is their next step.
Ohio has since moved to repeal most provisions of House Bill 6, though ratepayers continue to pay into a fund established under the original legislation to cover costs associated with the nuclear plants. The Supreme Court's ruling marks the definitive end to the criminal appeals process for both men.