Jon Husted

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- As he seeks to retain his U.S. Senate seat this fall, Ohio Republican Jon Husted has been unable to escape the shadow of a $60 million bribery scandal that has roiled state politics for more than five years.

Husted was recently called to testify as a defense witness in the related criminal trial of two former energy executives, testimony he might have to reprise after a hung jury led to a mistrial in the case in March. A judge in Akron scheduled the retrial to begin Sept. 28, meaning Husted could be back on the witness stand a week before early voting begins for the November elections.

The former lieutenant governor and Ohio secretary of state has never been charged with or accused of any wrongdoing. But the vast public record that has emerged from the scandal has raised questions about Husted's dealings with key players who have been indicted or imprisoned in the scheme, which revolved around legislative approval of a $1 billion bailout for the state's two nuclear power plants.

It's too early to know whether Husted's association with the trial will be a political liability for the first-term senator, who in the fall is expected to face Sherrod Brown, a Democrat ousted from the Senate in 2024.

In a potential sign of concern, Senate Republicans' main super political action committee, the Senate Leadership Fund, recently announced plans to spend $79 million on Husted's behalf. That's roughly one-quarter of its planned national spending in eight tightly contested Senate races.

Asked in 2022 what role he played in the bailout legislation, known as House Bill 6, Husted answered, "None." He has reiterated that stance many times since, even as evidence disclosed in the case has raised questions about his involvement.

Husted's calendars that came to light during the recent trial involving executives for the utility, Akron-based FirstEnergy, showed a number of additional meetings or phone calls he had with former CEO Chuck Jones, with the state's former top utility regulator, who has since died, and with then-Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder. They formed the triangle of influence at the heart of scheme as laid out by federal prosecutors. Husted's calendars were obtained by the Ohio Capital Journal through a public records request and have been reviewed by The Associated Press.

Jones and former FirstEnergy lobbyist Michael Dowling were charged for their reported roles in the bribery scandal and will be retried in the fall. Householder is serving a 20-year prison sentence after being convicted in 2023 of orchestrating the scheme, which FirstEnergy has admitted to underwriting.

The interactions noted in Husted's calendars were around the time the bailout bill was being developed and passed. Evidence presented in various cases showed Jones and Dowling discussing a push by Husted for additional subsidies in the legislation.

Husted has consistently denied that he played a role in creating the legislation as well as having any knowledge of criminal activity surrounding the bill.

In an NBC4 interview in January, Husted said, "My role was very clear. I wanted the nuclear power plants to remain operational." He said it was "about keeping those plants open and keeping the lights on for millions of Ohioans."

Husted declined a request for further comment about the details that have emerged as the various cases surrounding the bribery scandal play out.

"Sen. Husted has commented extensively with the media and given testimony under oath and doesn't have anything additional to add," said Josh Eck, his spokesperson.