FirstEnergy Pays $20M in $60M Bribery Scandal

FirstEnergy Corp. has agreed to pay $20 million and avoid criminal charges in connection with a $60 million bribery scandal involving top Ohio officials. The agreement includes $19.5 million to the Ohio Attorney General's office and $500,000 for an independent consultant to review the company's practices. This deal follows a previous $230 million fine paid in 2021 to settle federal charges. The scandal involved bribes to former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder and ex-Public Utilities Commission Chairman Sam Randazzo to secure favorable legislation, including a $1 billion bailout for two nuclear plants. Householder received a 20-year prison sentence, while Randazzo died by suicide after being indicted. FirstEnergy has committed to cooperate with ongoing investigations and implement enhanced compliance measures.