Ohio Democratic Party

03/09/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 03/09/2026 13:42

BOMBSHELL VIDEO: Jon Husted Called To Testify in FirstEnergy Criminal Corruption Trial

BOMBSHELL VIDEO: Jon Husted Called To Testify in FirstEnergy Criminal Corruption Trial

March 9, 2026

WEWS: "Next week, the defense is set to call Senator Jon Husted to the stand… Tonight [Morgan Trau] is asking why Senator Husted may not be able to testify in Ohio,but can campaign here"

Husted refuses to testify in person despite returning to Ohio for a fundraiser

Ohio families paying$663 more a year on electric bills thanks to Husted

COLUMBUS, OHIO - In a stunning new development in the largest bribery scandal in Ohio history, Senator Jon Husted is now expected to testify next week in the ongoing FirstEnergy criminal corruption trial. Husted played a key role in the bribery scheme that delivered a billion dollar bailout to utilities and contributed to energy rates for Ohioans increasing by $663 a year.

WATCH HERE:

Despite being called to testify, Husted is refusing to appear in person to explain his role in the scandal, with his lawyers claiming he must remain in Washington due to the "outbreak of war in Iran." But Husted's excuse is already falling flat as he was spotted traveling through airports in both Washington and Columbus, on the way to a swanky fundraiser where tickets go for as high as $1,000.

Husted has already been mentioned more than 100 times during the corruption trial as new developments continue to surface, including phone calls, text messages, and previously unreported secret meetings between Husted and the indicted FirstEnergy executives.

Ohio Democratic Party Senior Communications Advisor Tony Wen released the following statement:

"Jon Husted has been mentioned more than 100 times in the largest bribery scandal in Ohio history - and now that he's finally being called to testify, he is refusing to show up in person to answer for his role in the scandal. Ohioans deserve to know why Jon Husted sold them out to a big utility company and left families paying hundreds more each year on their energy bills."

Read more about Jon Husted's role in Ohio's largest corruption scandal:

  • New evidence revealed nine calls between Jon Husted and Mike Dowling in the months preceding a $4.3 million bribe to former Utilities Commission Chair Sam Randazzo.
  • New reporting revealed Jon Husted held secret meetings with indicted FirstEnergy executives, including with the "mastermind of Ohio's largest public corruption scheme two days before scandal-ridden bribery legislation was introduced."
  • Neil Clark, a FirstEnergy lobbyist and co-defendant with former House Speaker Larry Householder, referred to Husted as FirstEnergy's "golden boy."
  • Text messages between Husted and FirstEnergy Executives reveal that the trio were in constant communication "before, during and after his campaign."
  • Just weeks after Husted and DeWine were elected in 2018, they had dinner with Jones and Dowling at the Athletic Club of Columbus.
  • Public records show that FirstEnergy funneled $1 million in dark money to a dark money group backing Husted in 2017 - part of the same corrupt scheme that led to federal and state indictments.

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Ohio Democratic Party published this content on March 09, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on March 09, 2026 at 19:42 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]