Rep. Weinstein statement as Consumers' Counsel releases documents connecting Randazzo to alleged FirstEnergy bribe

State Rep. Casey Weinstein (D-Hudson) issued a statement Monday as the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel released consulting agreement documents provided by FirstEnergy connecting former Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) chair Sam Randazzo to a $4.3 million payment just weeks before Gov. DeWine named Randazzo to act as an industry watchdog.

“Gov. DeWine hired Sam Randazzo despite, or maybe because of his agenda. Instead of using his taxpayer-funded position to be an advocate on behalf of Ohioans, Randazzo allegedly covered up his connections in exchange for millions of dollars to help in the passage of a corrupt billion-dollar corporate bailout at the center of the largest public corruption scheme at any Statehouse in the country. Ohioans have every right to be cynical of their elected officials. I join them and continue to call for accountability and further investigations into this corruption,” said Rep. Weinstein. 

Gov. DeWine initially indicated that he knew about the payment in October 2020. He later stated that he was unaware of the payment until Randazzo’s home was raided by the FBI the following month, despite admitting that Randazzo had informed his chief of staff in October.

In FirstEnergy’s plea agreement with the federal government, the company said that it had paid Randazzo $4.3 million, in order to obtain regulatory changes worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

After Randazzo’s home was searched by the FBI in November 2020, Gov. DeWine stood by Randazzo, saying that he is a “good person” and that there was no indication that he was a target of investigation. Randazzo resigned as PUCO chair days later.