Prosecutors on Wednesday pushed back against defense claims that evidence was withheld about key witness Ebony Yeboah-Amankwah in the bribery case against former CEO Chuck Jones and lobbyist Michael Dowling.
Updated: Feb. 18, 2026, 1:38 p.m.Ex-FirstEnergy Senior Vice President Michael Dowling listens to witness testimony on Wednesday as Assistant Ohio Attorney General Matthew Meyer questions a witness during the trial of and former FirstEnergy CEO Chuck Jones.
AKRON, Ohio — Prosecutors on Wednesday sharply pushed back against claims of misconduct in the FirstEnergy bribery trial, telling a Summit County judge that defense attorneys for two former executives distorted facts about a key witness. Assistant Ohio Attorney General Drew Wood said in a Wednesday filing that Summit County Common Pleas Judge Susan Baker Ross should deny the defense’s request toagainst former FirstEnergy CEO Chuck Jones and former top lobbyist Michael Dowling or, alternatively, to issue an adverse jury instruction. Prosecutors argue they fully complied with their legal obligations and disclosed all evidence related to former FirstEnergy ethics chief Ebony Yeboah-Amankwah, whose three-day testimony triggered the defense motion.Defense attorneys had accused prosecutors of withholding evidence by failing to disclose conversations they held with Yeboah-Amankwah prior to her testimony before aand in the lead-up to. They argued the supposed omission violated defendants’ constitutional rights and irreparably tainted the trial. The state disputes that claim, saying Jones and Dowling received Yeboah-Amankwah’s sworn civil deposition testimony months before trial and that it was materially consistent with her courtroom testimony. Prosecutors also noted they successfully moved to unseal her grand jury testimony during trial, after the court reviewed it and found no exculpatory evidence requiring disclosure.Prosecutors further argue that the Brady rule -- which requires them to disclose anything exculpatory or favorable to the defense -- did not factor in here. According to prosecutors, the rule does not require them to record or turn over notes from witness preparation meetings, which they say are standard trial practice and protected as work product. They said Yeboah-Amankwah did not provide any new or inconsistent statements during those meetings that would have triggered additional disclosure obligations. Jones and Dowling face 11 felony counts, including bribery, conspiracy and racketeering, in one of three criminal cases tied to the House Bill 6 corruption scandal. Prosecutors allege the former executives bribed state officials to secure favorable legislation and regulatory decisions benefiting FirstEnergy. Yeboah-Amankwah testified that Jones approved a $4.3 million payment prosecutors say was a bribe tied to the appointment of Sam Randazzo as chair of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. She also testified that Jones later made millions selling company stock after regulatory decisions boosted FirstEnergy’s share price.Judge Baker Ross has not yet ruled on the defense motion. The trial, now in its third week, continues. Adam Ferrise covers federal courts for cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer, where he’s worked since 2013. He previously covered Cleveland crime and policing, Akron and Summit County crime and courts and crime in...
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