Householder was convicted of racketeering after a jury trial[7] and received the maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison on June 29, 2023, for his role in the Ohio nuclear bribery scandal.
[8] As a convicted felon, Ohio law prohibits Householder from holding public office in the state.
[citation needed] Householder ran an insurance agency and served as Perry County commissioner before seeking higher office.
In 1996, he ran for Ohio's 78th House district, challenging incumbent Democrat Mary Abel of Athens.
[15] In 2004, Householder and several top advisers were investigated for alleged money laundering and irregular campaign practices.
In response, the Newark Ohio Pride Coalition issued a formal statement noting that their organization paid for the event with a non-governmental grant.
[26] On July 21, 2020, the FBI arrested Householder and four others in connection with a $60 million bribery case involving the financial rescue of First Energy's two nuclear plants in Ohio, Davis–Besse and Perry.
U.S. Attorney David M. DeVillers called it "likely the largest bribery scheme ever perpetrated against the state of Ohio".
[27][28][29] During a July 21 press briefing, DeVillers said that money from First Energy was filtered through a fake nonprofit organization to pay for bribes and evade campaign finance laws.
[4] Following DeVillers's press conference, Republican Governor Mike DeWine asked Householder to resign.