Larry Householder

Born in Zanesville, Ohio, Householder was raised in Junction City, Ohio where he worked on his family's farm.{{cite web|url=https://issuu.com/knightstemplar/docs/200206|title=Sir Knight Larry Householder: Buckeye State Speaker of the House|work=Knights Templar|date=June 2002|page=18|access-date=July 21, 2020}}

{{cite news

| first=Jim|last=Siegel|title = Big personalities, bigger caucus pose challenges for Ohio House Speaker

| url = http://www.cantonrep.com/news/20170101/big-personalities-bigger-caucus-pose-challenges-for-ohio-house-speaker

|newspaper=Canton Repository|date=July 2, 2017| access-date = January 9, 2017 }}

He then attended Ohio University, earning a degree in political science.

{{cite web

| title = Ohio's House Speaker Worries Term Limits Will Decrease Experienced Lawmakers in 2017

| url = http://wksu.org/post/ohios-house-speaker-worries-term-limits-will-decrease-experienced-lawmakers-2017#stream/0

| access-date = January 9, 2017 | first = Jo

| last = Ingles

| website = WKSU

| date=January 2, 2017

}}

He is married with six children.{{citation needed|date=January 2019}}

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.{{cite web|first=Austin|last=Linfante|url=https://thenewpolitical.com/2016/10/25/94th-district-race-graces-historical-precedent-versus-edwards-hometown-geography/|title=For the 94th District race, it's Grace's historical precedent versus Edwards' hometown geography|date=October 25, 2016|website=The New Political}} Householder defeated Abel with 55.03% of the vote. He was reelected three times.

In 1998, Householder was elected to serve as assistant majority whip.{{cite web|url=https://www.sos.state.oh.us/elections/election-results-and-data/1990-1999-official-election-results/ohio-house-of-representatives-november-3-1998/|title=Ohio House of Representatives: November 3, 1998 – Ohio Secretary of State|website=www.sos.state.oh.us}} In 2001, he was elected to serve as Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives, the highest post in the House.{{cite web|url=http://www.toledoblade.com/|title=The Blade|website=The Blade}} He served two terms as speaker, during which he led major legislative reforms, including introducing concealed carry, passing tort reform, and defunding Planned Parenthood—making Ohio the first state to do so.{{cite web|url=https://www.cincinnati.com/|title=Cincinnati Enquirer|website=Cincinnati.com}}

In 2004, Householder and several top advisers were investigated for alleged money laundering and irregular campaign practices. The government closed the case without filing charges.{{cite web|url=https://www.zanesvilletimesrecorder.com/story/news/local/2018/04/20/householder-files-lawsuit-over-negative-advertising/532503002/|title=Householder files lawsuit over negative advertising|last1=Snyder|first1=Kate|last2=Thompson|first2=Chrissie|newspaper=Zanesville Times Recorder|date=April 19, 2018|access-date=May 25, 2018}} He was term-limited in 2004.{{cite web|url=http://www.cleveland.com/opinion/index.ssf/2015/09/larry_householders_possible_se.html|title=Larry Householder's possible second act, Mount Denali follies: Thomas Suddes|first1=Thomas|last1=Suddes|website=cleveland.com|date=September 6, 2015}} Householder was later elected the Perry County Auditor.{{cite web|url=https://www.buckeyelakebeacon.net/|title=The Buckeye Lake Beacon|website=The Buckeye Lake Beacon}}

When incumbent state Representative Bill Hayes ran for Licking County prosecutor in 2016, Householder ran for his old seat, renamed District 72 after redistricting.{{cite web | url=http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2015/12/16/1216-larry-householder-files-for-ohio-house.html | title=Ex-Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder running for old seat |newspaper=The Columbus Dispatch|date=December 16, 2015| access-date=January 9, 2017}} Householder defeated Cliff N. Biggers in the Republican primary with almost 64% of the vote. He won the general election against Democrat John Carlisle with 72% of the vote.{{cite web | url=http://www.cleveland.com/opinion/index.ssf/2015/09/larry_householders_possible_se.html | title=Larry Householder's possible second act, Mount Denali follies: Thomas Suddes | date=September 6, 2015 | access-date=January 9, 2017}} A former Speaker, Householder became a freshman legislator along with former President of the Ohio Senate Keith Faber.

{{cite news | title = Ex-Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder eyeing old seat | url = http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/nov/30/ex-ohio-house-speaker-larry-householder-eyeing-old/ |newspaper=The Washington Times|date=November 30, 2015|access-date = January 9, 2017}} On January 7, 2019, a bipartisan majority of legislators elected him to serve again as speaker of the Ohio House.{{cite web | url=https://www.cleveland.com/politics/2019/01/larry-householder-elected-ohio-house-speaker.html | title=Larry Householder Again Elected Speaker of the Ohio House | access-date=January 6, 2019}}

{{Undue weight section|date=June 2021}}

In May 2019, Householder criticized the Ohio Library Council and the Newark Library in Licking County for providing an event for teens in the LGBTQ community at the taxpayers' expense. In response, the Newark Ohio Pride Coalition issued a formal statement noting that their organization paid for the event with a non-governmental grant.{{Cite web|url=http://www.newnownext.com/ohio-public-library-cancels-lgbtq-pride-event/06/2019/|title=Ohio Library Cancels Pride Event After Republican House Speaker Complains|first=Jeff|last=Taylor March 6, 2019|website=LOGO News}} Later that evening, the Newark Library canceled the event.{{cite news|url=https://www.10tv.com/article/ohio-house-speaker-criticizes-licking-county-librarys-lgbtq-event-library-cancels-2019-jun|title=Ohio House Speaker criticizes Licking County Library's LGBTQ event; library cancels|agency=Associated Press|publisher=WBNS-TV|date=June 1, 2019|access-date=June 1, 2019}} The Newark Ohio Pride Coalition found a new location for it.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newarkadvocate.com/story/news/local/granville/2019/06/03/canceled-lgbtq-teen-event-goes-forward-newark-denison-u-venue/1327573001/|title=Canceled LGBTQ teen event back on, moves to Newark's Denison Art Space|first=Craig|last=McDonald|website=The Newark Advocate}}

After his arrest for racketeering in 2020, the event organizers publicly asked Householder to reflect upon his own advice about being a good steward of public money.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dispatch.com/opinion/20200729/column-householderrsquos-criticism-of-pride-event-applies-better-to-himself|title=Column: Householder's criticism of Pride event applies better to himself}}

{{main|Ohio nuclear bribery scandal}}

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".{{cite news|url=https://www.dispatch.com/news/20200721/ohio-speaker-larry-householder-arrested-in--60-million-public-bribery-case|title=Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder arrested in $60 million bribery case|last1=Rouan|first1=Rick|last2=Ludlow|first2=Randy|newspaper=The Columbus Dispatch|date=July 21, 2020|access-date=July 21, 2020}}{{cite news|url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2020/07/21/ohio-bribery-case-state-official-charged-federal-prosecutors/5477862002/|title=Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder arrested in $60 million bribery case|last1=Coolidge|first1=Sharon|last2=Horn|first2=Dan|last3=Balmert|first3=Jessie|newspaper=The Cincinnati Enquirer|date=July 21, 2020|access-date=July 21, 2020}}{{Cite web|title=Ohio House speaker, 4 others arrested in $60M bribery case|url=https://news.yahoo.com/feds-detail-charges-60m-ohio-141735347.html|last1=Smyth|first1=Julie Carr|last2=Seewer|first2=John|date=July 21, 2020|publisher=Associated Press|access-date=July 21, 2020|website=news.yahoo.com}} 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.

Following DeVillers's press conference, Republican Governor Mike DeWine asked Householder to resign.{{cite news |title=DeWine Calls on Householder to Resign Following Bribery Allegations |url=https://www.nbc4i.com/news/local-news/dewine-calls-on-householder-to-resign-following-bribery-allegations|publisher=WCMH-TV NBC 4 Columbus |date=July 21, 2020|access-date=July 22, 2020}} Later that day, Householder released a statement to the press saying he would not resign.{{Cite web|title=House Speaker Larry Householder says he won't resign despite arrest|last=Pelzer|first=Jeremy|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/house-speaker-larry-householder-says-he-won-e2-80-99t-resign-despite-arrest/ar-BB171yx2|publisher=The Plain Dealer|date=July 21, 2020|access-date=July 22, 2020|website=www.msn.com}}

On July 30, 2020, the Ohio House of Representatives voted unanimously to remove Householder as Ohio House Speaker.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cleveland.com/open/2020/07/ohio-house-votes-to-remove-larry-householder-as-ohio-speaker.html|title = Ohio House votes to remove Larry Householder as Ohio Speaker following corruption arrest|date = July 30, 2020}}

On June 16, 2021, the House voted to expel Householder by a bipartisan vote of 75–21.{{Cite web|last1=Pelzer|first1=Jeremy|last2=clevel|last3=.com|date=June 16, 2021|title=Larry Householder expelled from Ohio House amid bribery charge|url=https://www.cleveland.com/open/2021/06/ohio-house-debates-expelling-indicted-ex-house-speaker-larry-householder.html|access-date=June 16, 2021|website=cleveland|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=House Resolution 69 {{!}} The Ohio Legislature|url=https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA134-HR-69|access-date=January 4, 2022|website=www.legislature.ohio.gov}}

On March 9, 2023, Householder was convicted of racketeering in relation to the First Energy scheme.

On June 29, 2023, Householder was sentenced to a maximum of 20 years for his crimes. Following sentencing, Householder was remanded into custody to begin serving his sentence in federal prison. Under federal law, he must serve at least 85% of his sentence after which time he may be eligible for early release{{cite web | url = https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/3624 | title = 18 U.S. Code § 3624 - Release of a prisoner | website = www.law.cornell.edu | publisher = Cornell Law School | access-date = 7 March 2024 | quote = ' ... a prisoner ... may receive credit toward the service of the prisoner's sentence, beyond the time served, of up to 54 days at the end of each year of the prisoner's term of imprisonment, beginning at the end of the first year of the term, subject to determination by the Bureau of Prisons that, during that year, the prisoner has displayed exemplary compliance with institutional disciplinary regulations.' Note 54 days is 15% of a year.}} in June 2040.{{cite web | url=https://www.bop.gov/inmateloc/ | title=Inmate Locator }} As of August 28, 2023, Householder was transferred to federal prison in Oklahoma.{{cite web | url=https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/politics/2023/06/29/ex-ohio-house-speaker-larry-householder-faces-prison-in-corruption-case/70235375007/ | title=Ex-Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder sentenced to maximum 20 years }}

On May 31, 2024, Householder pleaded not guilty to 10 felony charges brought by the state of Ohio.{{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/bribery-ohio-speaker-householder-59c967447d53f1b72d6503cb17a7678b|title=Imprisoned former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder pleads not guilty to new charges|website=AP|date=May 31, 2024|access-date=June 4, 2024}}

Larry Householder is married to Taundra Householder. They have five sons. They also had a daughter, who died in 1992.{{cite news |last=Christian |first=Paula |title=Once the most powerful lawmaker in OH, Larry Householder to serve 20 years behind bars |work=WCPO-TV |date=June 28, 2023 |url=https://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/i-team/once-the-most-powerful-lawmaker-in-oh-larry-householder-now-faces-up-to-20-years-in-prison-for-public-corruption |access-date=September 2, 2023}}{{cite news |last=Tobias |first=Andrew J. |title=Are you just learning about Larry Householder following his arrest? Those in Ohio political circles know all about him. |work=Cleveland.com |date=March 7, 2023 |url=https://www.cleveland.com/open/2020/07/are-you-just-learning-about-larry-householder-following-his-arrest-those-in-ohio-political-circles-know-all-about-him.html |access-date=September 2, 2023}}

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.ohiohouse.gov/larry-householder Ohio State Representative Larry Householder] official site

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{{Members of the Ohio House of Representatives}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Householder, Larry}}

Category:1959 births

Category:County auditors in the United States

Category:County commissioners in Ohio

Category:Living people

Category:Ohio University alumni

Category:People expelled from United States state legislatures

Category:People from Perry County, Ohio

Category:Speakers of the Ohio House of Representatives

Category:Republican Party members of the Ohio House of Representatives

Category:21st-century members of the Ohio General Assembly

Category:Ohio politicians convicted of crimes

Category:Politicians convicted of racketeering

Category:People convicted of racketeering

Category:Prisoners and detainees of the United States federal government