'Next level pressuring': Latest emails, texts show Republican push for $1B nuclear bailout

A Delaware County Republican said he spent 45 minutes on the phone with Republican National Committee Co-Chair Bob Paduchik last spring explaining why he couldn't support the $1 billion bailout of two northeast Ohio nuclear power plants. 

"This is some next level pressuring," Rep. Rick Carfagna, R-Genoa Township, wrote in a text message.

Carfagna's text was one of thousands of documents released in response to a public records request for emails and messages given to the FBI as part of their investigation into whether five men committed federal crimes while trying to pass House Bill 6. 

Agents arrested former House Speaker Larry Householder, R-Glenford, in July on federal racketeering charges. The indictment alleged that he and four other men funneled $61 million through dark money groups and PACs to pass the nuclear subsidy bill and defend it against a referendum. 

Prosecutors called it the largest public corruption scandal in state history. Carfagna's texts called it vindication. 

“After every conversation I had with someone on this, I felt like I needed a shower," Carfagna wrote in a message to Americans For Prosperity Ohio Director Micah Derry. "No wonder they’re bankrupt – everyone's on their payroll one way or another. This bill has bad news written all over it both politically and policywise.”

Householder and lobbyists Matt Borges and Neil Clark, have pleaded not guilty. Lobbyist Juan Cespedes and strategist Jeff Longstreth pleaded guilty to federal racketeering charges in October. 

The Ohio House passed the nuclear bailout 51-38 in July 2019. The law provided six years of financial support to the Davis-Besse and Perry nuclear generation facilities by collecting up to $150 million a year from customers. 

Some of the 16 Republicans who voted no, including Rep. Dave Greenspan, R-Westlake, received messages from Householder like this one: "I want you to remember – when I needed you – you weren’t there … twice.” 

While others, including Rep. Scott Lipps, R-Franklin, were lobbied hard for their votes. Householder texted Lipps: "I need your vote. I am asking personally for it … are you with me on this?”

The representative replied that he would find a way to support the bailout, but "please understand how hard this vote is for me.” 

Another Republican representative texted Carfagna to say, "I have never experienced such pressure for any other bill.” 

Several lawmakers, including Carfagna, introduced legislation to repeal and/or replace House Bill 6 in the wake of the scandal. But lawmakers appear to have closed out the 133rd General Assembly without making any changes. 

The Ohio Supreme Court, however, delayed its implementation by postponing the fees that were set to start being collect in January.

Dispatch reporter Mark Williams contributed to this story.

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