OAN’s Brooke Mallory
1:12pm – Tuesday, February 13, 2024
State Attorney General Dave Yost announced on Monday that two former FirstEnergy executives, including fired CEO Chuck Jones and a former state utility regulator, have been ordered to take control of an Ohio nuclear power plant. It was announced that he had been indicted in a public corruption case related to the law intended to save the country. .
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Charles “Chuck” Jones, former FirstEnergy Senior Vice President of External Affairs Michael Dowling, and former Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) Chairman Samuel Randazzo were all indicted by a grand jury in Summit County, Ohio. He was indicted. .
A total of 27 felonies have been charged against the three men.
The charges relate to a 2019 bill that favored nuclear subsidies and other measures favoring utility company FirstEnergy, which was later withdrawn.
“This indictment concerns multiple bills,” Yost said. “This is about a hostile occupation of a vital part of the state government of Ohio through deceit, treachery, and fraud.”
Jones and Dowling are facing their first criminal charges from the state. Meanwhile, Randazzo and others have also been indicted and are currently facing charges in federal court.
Jones’ attorney said her client was acting in the best interest of FirstEnergy and its investors and did not violate any laws.
“When presented with these facts, the record will be set straight and Mr. Jones will be honored for his lifelong service to Ohio’s electric customers, FirstEnergy employees, industry and community,” said Jones’ attorney Carol Rendon. “We will restore the excellent reputation we have built within the company.” .
“FirstEnergy is now a different and stronger company with new leadership, a sound strategy and a best-in-class compliance program,” FirstEnergy spokeswoman Jennifer Young said. Ta.
FirstEnergy has previously acknowledged that it paid Randazzo and then-Ohio House Speaker Larry Hausder a total of $64 million through entities it controlled in exchange for legislative and regulatory benefits. Ta.
In 2020, Householder was indicted by federal agents on racketeering charges, and Jones lost his job at FirstEnergy.
Spokesman Matt Schilling said four of the PUCO’s own investigations were ongoing. Schilling went on to say that the committee is focused on conducting investigations that do not interfere with federal or state investigations.
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