Ohio Lt. Gov. Husted Met with FirstEnergy Exec Before Scandal-Ridden Bill

Husted's calendar shows meeting with alleged bribery mastermind 2 days before H.B. 6 was introduced

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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According to his official calendar, Ohio Lt. Governor Jon Husted met with Chuck Jones, the former CEO of FirstEnergy who is on trial for bribery, just two days before the scandal-ridden House Bill 6 was introduced. This revelation has raised further questions about Husted's involvement in the state's largest public corruption scheme, which centered around a $1 billion bailout for FirstEnergy's struggling nuclear plants.

Why it matters

The close ties between Husted, FirstEnergy executives, and the former Public Utilities Commission chair Sam Randazzo, who drafted H.B. 6, have been a major focus of the ongoing corruption investigation. This new evidence of a direct meeting between Husted and the alleged bribery mastermind just days before the bill's introduction adds to the mounting questions about how deep the scandal goes and what Husted's role may have been.

The details

Husted's official calendar shows he met with Chuck Jones, the former FirstEnergy CEO, on February 16, 2019 - just two days before H.B. 6 was introduced in the Ohio legislature. The bill ultimately provided a $1 billion bailout for FirstEnergy's nuclear plants. Jones and FirstEnergy VP Mike Dowling are currently on trial for bribery related to the legislation. Text messages also show frequent communication between Husted, FirstEnergy executives, and the former Public Utilities Commission chair Sam Randazzo, who drafted H.B. 6. Husted has denied any wrongdoing but has been described as a "really good friend of FirstEnergy" by a state senator.

  • On February 16, 2019, Husted met with Chuck Jones, the former FirstEnergy CEO.
  • House Bill 6 was introduced in the Ohio legislature on February 18, 2019.

The players

Jon Husted

The Lieutenant Governor of Ohio who had close ties to FirstEnergy executives and was heavily involved in the push for House Bill 6, which provided a $1 billion bailout for the company's nuclear plants.

Chuck Jones

The former CEO of FirstEnergy who is currently on trial for bribery related to the passage of House Bill 6.

Mike Dowling

The former VP of FirstEnergy who is also on trial for bribery alongside Chuck Jones.

Sam Randazzo

The former chair of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio who drafted House Bill 6 and received $4.3 million in bribe payments from FirstEnergy.

Kent Smith

A Democratic state senator who has described Husted as a "really good friend of FirstEnergy".

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What they’re saying

“He had access to Jon Husted, the lieutenant governor of the state of Ohio.”

— Steven Grimes, Attorney for Mike Dowling

“Jon Husted seems to have been First Energy's selected official of choice in Columbus.”

— Kent Smith, State Senator

“With friends like that, I don't know if you need enemies.”

— Kent Smith, State Senator

What’s next

Husted is listed as a witness for the defense in the upcoming trial of Chuck Jones and Mike Dowling, and he could testify in the next few weeks.

The takeaway

The revelation that Husted met with the alleged mastermind of the FirstEnergy bribery scheme just days before the scandal-ridden House Bill 6 was introduced raises serious questions about the lieutenant governor's involvement in Ohio's largest public corruption case. This new evidence further underscores the deep ties between Husted, FirstEnergy, and the architects of the $1 billion bailout, fueling calls for a thorough investigation into the full scope of the scandal.