‘Boom’: Texts on Ohio corruption trial show FirstEnergy executive celebrating planned flight to bring state lawmakers back to vote on botched bill

The use of state aircraft to evacuate lawmakers was approved by both Larry Householder and Gov. Mike DeWine. However, the flight did not take place in the end.

CINCINNATI — At the trial of former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder Thursday, new details emerged about the use of the state plane to fly state lawmakers back to Columbus to vote on the now-tainted nuclear energy bailout bill at the heart of the largest nuclear power rescue case in history. corruption in Ohio. .

In text messages presented to jurors in the U.S. District Court in Cincinnati, where Householder and lobbyist Matt Borges are accused of racketeering in an alleged $60 million bribery scheme, Householder informs a group of lawmakers who were absent from the event that the plane is coming. to get them.

Michael Dowling, the fired FirstEnergy vice president of external relations, then appeared in text messages to enjoy the purchase of the aircraft on behalf of a bill that the Akron-based energy company was very concerned about. FirstEnergy admitted that it secretly funded a House Bill 6 scheme as part of a deferred prosecution agreement.

“A state plane is due to pick you up, Tom Brinkman and Bob Kupp on Tuesday morning at Midway and bring you back to Chicago in the afternoon. Jay Edwards will give you a call,” Householder wrote to an unnamed MP on July 21, 2019.

Laurel Dawson, then chief of staff to Republican Governor Mike DeWine and married to a FirstEnergy consultant, approved the spending. “Mike Dawson’s wife. Boom,” Dowling wrote.

DeWine spokesman Dan Tierney said the governor’s administration only sent the plane at the speaker’s request. Tierney said such requests are “rare” but that government officials can request a plane if needed.

Tierney said that Dowling appeared to be promoting his value to his employer.

“He’s a paid lobbyist, and FirstEnergy clearly expected their lobbyists to demonstrate that they were earning the fees we pay you,” Tierney said. “We have seen reports throughout this case that were either completely wrong or took credit for something they were not involved in. It takes credit for something he didn’t participate in.”

Mike Dawson declined to comment.

The flight for the legislators ultimately never took place.

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