Jurors in Ohio have begun deliberating in the corruption trial of two fired FirstEnergy Corp. executives charged for their alleged roles in the $60 million bribery scheme centered on a $1 billion nuclear plant bailout.
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8 million; new owner says it plans to preserve the restaurant’s identityNo description available In wake of Susie Wiles’ diagnosis, expert shares importance of early detection in fighting breast cancerSing Out Loud Festival Francis Field Weekend moves to May, skips 2026 editionDefense attorney Carole Rendon, for former FirstEnergy CEO Chuck Jones, delivers her closing arguments in Jones' trial in Summit County Common Pleas Judge Susan Baker Ross's courtroom in Akron on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. Defense attorney Rachael Israel talks chats with former FirstEnergy CEO Chuck Jones before the start of closing arguments in his trial in Summit County Common Pleas Judge Susan Baker Ross's courtroom in Akron on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. Defense attorney Carole Rendon, for former FirstEnergy CEO Chuck Jones, delivers her closing arguments from the podium in Jones' trial in Summit County Common Pleas Judge Susan Baker Ross's courtroom in Akron on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. Ex-FirstEnergy Senior Vice President Michael Dowling listens to defense attorney Dan Webb during the closing arguments in former FirstEnergy CEO Chuck Jones' trial in Summit County Common Pleas Judge Susan Baker Ross's courtroom in Akron on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. Defense attorney Carole Rendon, for former FirstEnergy CEO Chuck Jones, addresses the jury during her closing arguments in Jones' trial in Summit County Common Pleas Judge Susan Baker Ross's courtroom in Akron on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. Ex-FirstEnergy Senior Vice President Michael Dowling listens to defense attorney Carole Rendon deliver her closing arguments in former FirstEnergy CEO Chuck Jones trial in Summit County Common Pleas Judge Susan Baker Ross's courtroom in Akron on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. Former FirstEnergy CEO Chuck Jones listens to his attorney Carole Rendon deliver the closing arguments in his trial in Summit County Common Pleas Judge Susan Baker Ross's courtroom in Akron on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. Ex-FirstEnergy Senior Vice President Michael Dowling watches as the jury enters the court to hear closing arguments in former FirstEnergy CEO Chuck Jones trial in Summit County Common Pleas Judge Susan Baker Ross's courtroom in Akron on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. Defense attorney Carole Rendon, for former FirstEnergy CEO Chuck Jones, delivers her closing arguments in Jones' trial in Summit County Common Pleas Judge Susan Baker Ross's courtroom in Akron on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. of corruption, bribery, conspiracy and aggravated theft for paying $4.3 million to a future top utility regulator in Ohio whoDuring closing arguments that spanned two days, prosecutors drove home their argument that Jones and Dowling purposely corrupted Public Utilities Commission of Ohio chair-to-befor their own benefit. They said securing Randazzo's help to land coveted legislative and regulatory favors bolstered the Akron-based utility giant's bottom line, which tied directly to the financial compensation of Jones and Dowling. “They rigged a process that was supposed to be fair for everyone. Their corruption here was using power, influence and money for personal and corporate greed,” Special Assistant Attorney General Matthew Meyer told jurors Monday. “By cleverly structuring the timing and labels of their payoff to Sam Randazzo, these two captains of industry behaved like they were untouchable.” The defense called that argument ridiculous, reiterating their position that the payment to Randazzo — delivered in early January 2019, before he was a candidate for the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio — represented an aboveboard legal settlement. “Chuck Jones did not bribe Sam Randazzo,” Jones' attorney Carole Rendon told jurors on Tuesday. “He made a legitimate business decision to terminate a settlement agreement that was for Sam Randazzo's clients, the members of IEU-Ohio.” Industrial Energy Users-Ohio was one of Randazzo's businesses. Text messages between the ex-executives and advice they were parsing for speaking to then-Gov.-elect Mike DeWine and then-Lt. Gov.-elect Jon Husted, a current U.S. senator who— as well as evidence from various postelection meetings — were used as evidence that prosecutors said showed that the two men had a detailed plan for enriching themselves while taking advantage of Ohioans. Dowling's attorney Steven Grimes told jurors Monday that the state failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt. He said that almost everything prosecuting attorneys argued was based on the assumption that Dowling intended that $4.3 million go to Randazzo, a premise contradicted by the evidence. Grimes said that the defense cherry-picked a series of events from years ago to paint a picture that Dowling conspired with Randazzo and Jones, but that the evidence presented did not show with certainty that is what happened. “I’ve been fighting for Mike for a long time. And this is it. I’m done fighting. I get to turn it over to now,” he told jurors. “You guys are the safeguards. You’re the constitutional protection that Mike has. You’re what he’s got. And so when you go back there in your jury room, please demand the details. Don’t compromise. Listen. Respect your fellow jurors. Talk it out. But don’t accept these assumptions. Keep up the fight for Mike. Send him home.”as part of a nonprosecution agreement in 2021 to underwriting the $60 million scheme in which former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder elected allies, secured power, passed the nuclear bailout bill and then defended it from a citizen referendum with the dirty-tricks campaign.alongside lobbyist and former Ohio Republican Party chair Matt Borges in 2023. Jurors sentenced Householder to 20 years for orchestrating the scheme and Borges got five. Two other political operatives also pleaded guilty to their roles and a dark money group admitted in court to serving as a conduit for the cash. A fourth Householder associate charged in the scheme, powerful Statehouse lobbyist Neil Clark,in 2024 after pleading not guilty to a litany of state and federal charges. Some of the gritty details that have taken place in the case over thewere not shared with jurors in Akron, where Summit County Common Pleas Judge Susan Baker Ross has overseen the Jones and Dowling case for six weeks. Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.JSO shoots man who pointed gun at officers while walking toward them outside Gate gas stationJacksonville TikTok influencer advocates for expansion of trade programs in Duval CountyGas station awning toppled during thunderstorms in Nassau CountyPonte Vedra double murder happened very close to another high profile crime sceneLights Out: Residents, businesses asked to turn off non-essential lights for bird migrationLudvig Åberg talks about entering the final round of The Players Championship with a 3-shot leadSuspect arrested in Nassau County after fatal double shooting near TPCOrange Park police successfully prevent rumored unauthorized event from taking placeNocatee community rallies around resident who was left with a brain injury after a golf cart crashDuval County School Board approves Kings Trail Elementary sale, neighbors raise traffic concerns
Michael Dowling Matthew Meyer Mike Dewine Larry Householder Jon Husted Sam Randazzo Chuck Jones Carole Rendon Matt Borges U.S. News Neil Clark
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