Jury Still Deliberating in FirstEnergy HB 6 Corruption Trial

The jury will resume deliberations on Tuesday after two pieces of restricted evidence were mistakenly included in the jury room.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 10:06am

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An extreme close-up photograph of a stack of $100 bills lit by a harsh, direct camera flash against a pitch-black background, conceptually representing the financial corruption at the heart of the House Bill 6 scandal.The House Bill 6 scandal has exposed the depths of financial corruption in Ohio's political system.Akron Today

The jury in the corruption trial for two former FirstEnergy executives charged in the Ohio House Bill 6 bribery scandal will resume deliberations on Tuesday. This will be their ninth full day of deliberations after closing arguments were heard on March 16 and 17. The prosecution called 26 witnesses during the six-week trial, while the defense called only three, including Republican U.S. Senator Jon Husted, who has not been accused of any wrongdoing. Neither of the defendants, Charles Jones and Michael Dowling, took the stand in their own defense.

Why it matters

The $60 million bribery scheme centered on FirstEnergy's efforts to have state lawmakers pass a bailout of two of its nuclear plants. Former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder, the mastermind of the racketeering operation, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison in 2023. This trial represents a key part of the ongoing fallout from the HB 6 scandal, which has shaken Ohio's political landscape.

The details

On Monday, the judge held a special hearing after two pieces of evidence the jurors weren't supposed to see made it into their room last Friday. The judge instructed those who saw the evidence to disregard it and continue with deliberations. Money laundering charges were previously dropped against both defendants due to insufficient evidence, but all other charges remain.

  • The jury trial for Charles Jones and Michael Dowling began on January 27, 2026.
  • Closing arguments were heard on March 16 and the morning of March 17, 2026.
  • The jury was given the case on the afternoon of March 17, 2026.

The players

Charles Jones

A 70-year-old former FirstEnergy executive charged in the Ohio House Bill 6 bribery scandal.

Michael Dowling

A 61-year-old former FirstEnergy executive charged in the Ohio House Bill 6 bribery scandal.

Larry Householder

The former Ohio House Speaker who was the mastermind of the $60 million racketeering operation and was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison in 2023.

Jon Husted

A Republican U.S. Senator who testified as a witness in the trial but has not been accused of any wrongdoing.

Susan Baker Ross

The Summit County Court of Common Pleas Judge presiding over the trial.

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What they’re saying

“We must hold those responsible for this bribery scheme accountable.”

— Mike DeWine, Ohio Governor

What’s next

The jury will resume deliberations on Tuesday, March 31, 2026.

The takeaway

This trial is a critical part of the ongoing fallout from the House Bill 6 scandal, which has exposed deep corruption in Ohio's political system. The outcome will have significant implications for the future of energy policy and public trust in the state's leadership.