Lawmakers look to federal authorities for answers on former House speaker's alleged corruption

Ahead of an anticipated May 16 vote to elect a new speaker of the Ohio House, two lawmakers are seeking answers as to why former Republican House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger resigned abruptly, amid reports of potential corruption. State Reps. Kristin Boggs (D-Columbus) and David Leland (D-Columbus) today asked the special agent in charge of the Cincinnati Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Ohio to provide any or as much information as possible on any current or potential investigation of Rosenberger’s unprecedented resignation.

“How can taxpayers trust their lawmakers to elect a new Speaker when we don’t know how deep this alleged corruption runs through state government,” Leland questioned. “I am sure some want to sweep this under the rug and get back to ‘business as usual,’ but Ohioans deserve answers as soon as possible to avoid any deeper corruption or wrongdoing with their hard earned tax dollars.”

The two Columbus-area lawmakers followed up with federal investigators after asking the Legislative Ethics Commission and Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien to look at allegations of corruption in the Ohio House reported by Ohio news media.

“In the midst of this chaos and dysfunction at the Statehouse, we need to send a strong message to Ohioans that we work for them – not for ourselves,” said Boggs. “That starts with a full accounting of any wrongdoing or corruption that took place at the expense of taxpayers.”

Lawmakers look to federal authorities for answers on former House speaker's alleged corruption (PDF)