HUSTED TRIAL TRACKER: Five Questions Jon Husted Must Answer As He Is Forced to Testify at FirstEnergy Criminal Corruption Trial

HUSTED TRIAL TRACKER: Five Questions Jon Husted Must Answer As He Is Forced to Testify at FirstEnergy Criminal Corruption Trial

March 11, 2026

Husted was at the center of the largest bribery scandal in Ohio history

Ohio families are paying$663 more a year on electric bills thanks to Husted

COLUMBUS, OHIO - Today, FirstEnergy "golden boy" Jon Husted will testify in the largest public corruption case in Ohio history. Husted was at the center of the largest bribery scheme in Ohio history, which delivered a billion dollar bailout to utilities and contributed to energy rates for Ohioans increasing by $663 a year.

Husted's testimony comes as he has already been mentioned more than 100 times during the corruption trial, with new developments continuing to surface - including phone calls, text messages, and previously unreported secret meetings between Husted and the indicted FirstEnergy executives.

Husted will testify virtually, blaming the war in Iran for keeping him in DC - but this didn't stop him from coming back to Ohio for a fundraiser last weekend, where tickets cost as much as $1,000.

Ohio Democratic Party Senior Communications Advisor Tony Wen released the following statement:

"Jon Husted was at the center of the largest bribery scandal in Ohio history and it's costing Ohioans hundreds of dollars more a year. Not only did Husted sell Ohioans out to a big energy company, he set the bribery scheme in motion - Husted owes the public answers on how deep his involvement goes."

Five questions Jon Husted must answer as he takes the stand in Ohio's largest corruption scandal:

1. What do you have to say to Ohioans who are paying $663 more per year for electricity because you led the passage of a billion dollar bailout for utilities?

1. You have argued that passing HB 6 was critical to "saving the nuclear power plants." Given everything we now know about the bribery and corruption tied to that law, do you regret your role in backing it?

1. Chuck Jones and Michael Dowling have painted Sam Randazzo, who you pushed as chair of the Public Utilities Commission, as the sole mastermind of the bribery scheme. Do you think Jones and Dowling are innocent? Are you ready to defend them?

1. Jones and Dowling have said it was you who pushed for Randazzo for Chair of the Public Utilities Commission. Is this accurate?

1. Your calendar shows you met with Sam Randazzo days before HB 6 was introduced in the state legislature. What was the nature of your meeting?

Read more about Jon Husted's role in Ohio's largest corruption scandal:

• Jon Husted played a central role "running the show" in the largest bribery scandal in Ohio history that is costing Ohioans $663 more a year.

• New evidence revealed nine calls between Jon Husted and Mike Dowling in the months preceding a $4.3 million bribe to former Utilities Commission Chair Sam Randazzo.

• New reporting revealed Jon Husted held secret meetings with indicted FirstEnergy executives, including with the "mastermind of Ohio's largest public corruption scheme two days before scandal-ridden bribery legislation was introduced."

• Neil Clark, a FirstEnergy lobbyist and co-defendant with former House Speaker Larry Householder, referred to Husted as FirstEnergy's "golden boy."

• Text messages between Husted and FirstEnergy Executives reveal that the trio were in constant communication "before, during and after his campaign."

• Indicted FirstEnergy CEO Chuck Jones said Husted was a "good friend of FirstEnergy" who was "highly engaged" and "fighting to the end" in support of the massive bail out.

• Just weeks after Husted and DeWine were elected in 2018, they had dinner with Jones and Dowling at the Athletic Club of Columbus.

• Public records show that FirstEnergy funneled $1 million in dark money to a dark money group backing Husted in 2017 - part of the same corrupt scheme that led to federal and state indictments.

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