Ohio House prepares to vote on removing disgraced GOP leader

Nine days after federal officials released details of a $60 million bribery probe, Ohio House is preparing for an historic vote on wher to remove powerful Republican speaker alleged to have led scheme. House will convene Thursday after a secret vote taken Tuesday by Republican caucus during a closed-door meeting indicated eugh support to boot Speaker Larry Householder from his leership role. Democrats also called for his ouster.

Ohio House has never before removed a speaker, according to Ohio History Connection, which was formerly Ohio Historical Society. Remaining members of Householder’s leership team said in a statement that he deserves presumption of incence but “has lost trust of his colleagues and public” and can’t effectively le House.

Householder, of Glenford, was one of five defendants identified in a July 21 federal affidavit as allegedly taking part in a pay-to-play scheme involving corporate money secretly funneled to m for personal and political use in exchange for helping to pass House Bill 6 to financially bail out two FirstEnergy nuclear plants.

Householder was one of driving forces behind legislation, which included a fee to every electricity bill in state and directed over $150 million a year through 2026 to plants near Cleveland and Toledo. Householder, his long-time viser Jeffrey Longstreth, former Ohio Republican Party chairman Matt Borges and lobbyists Neil Clark and Juan Cespedes could each face up to 20 years in prison if y’re convicted for ir alleged work to pass bailout and block attempts to overturn it, according to a criminal complaint filed by FBI.

Householder has thus far igred calls from colleagues in both parties to resign. He and his attorney have igred or declined requests for comment about allegations and about his plans. It wasn’t clear under what authority remaining members of Householder’s leership team scheduled Thursday’s session. Under House rules, only speaker can call a session. power falls to his . 2, Speaker Pro Tempore Rep. Jim Butler, if speaker is absent.

Bipartisan support for removing Householder as speaker has accumulated since affidavit’s release. Rep. Niraj Antani, a Dayton Republican, described that move as “ first step to restoring integrity to House.” House Democratic leers labeled last week as “a dark time for our state” and asked GOP “to do right thing” Thursday.

“We refuse to let latest GOP scandal derail Ohio House of Representatives from pressing work that needs to be done,” y said in a statement. “We do t need se distractions; we need to work to solve critical issues facing working people and families in our state.”

Householder wouldn’t necessarily lose his House seat. Removing him as speaker would take 50 votes; expelling him from House altoger would take 66. Republicans hold 61 seats, and Democrats have 38. If he is removed, a decision on when to schedule a vote on his successor will be me by Assistant Majority Floor Leer Anthony DeVitis, of Green. Potential candidates for job include Butler and Reps. Rick Carfagna, Bob Cupp, Tim Ginter and Craig Riedel.