Leader Sykes statement as House votes to remove Larry Householder as speaker

COLUMBUS –House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) issued a statement today as the Ohio House voted unanimously to strip Larry Householder (R-Glenford) of his role as Speaker of the House. Householder and four associates were indicted by a federal grand jury today amid an ongoing FBI criminal investigation into his connection to an alleged $60 million public corruption and bribery scheme—the largest in state history.

“The criminal allegations detailed last week and the indictment handed down today made it clear that Larry Householder could no longer serve as speaker of the People’s House. His removal is the first step toward restoring public trust, which for the second time in three years has been eroded by Republican leadership that sees itself as above the law. It is my hope that the Republican Supermajority moves quickly to choose their next leader so Ohioans can have a functioning legislature.”

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