Larry Householder Seeks Pardon, Sentence Commutation

Former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder, sentenced to 20 years in prison for orchestrating a $60 million bribery scheme involving FirstEnergy Corp., is seeking clemency from President-elect Donald Trump. Householder's attorney, Scott Pullins, plans to apply for both a pardon and a commutation of the sentence closer to Trump's inauguration in January 2025. A pardon would fully restore Householder's civil rights, although it does not imply innocence, while a commutation would reduce his sentence. Householder is also appealing his conviction in the Sixth Circuit Court and faces additional state charges that could permanently bar him from holding public office. Despite the typical five-year waiting period after release for a presidential pardon, Pullins intends to request a waiver, acknowledging such waivers are rarely granted. Householder remains in federal prison, with his current release scheduled for 2040.