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The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to overturn the federal racketeering convictions of imprisoned former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder and ex-lobbyist Matt Borges, leaving in place their sentences tied to a yearslong $60 million bribery scheme. The court’s action upheld a prior unanimous decision by a three-judge panel of the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati.
The Supreme Court’s ruling meant Householder and Borges’ appeal of the 6th Circuit decision did not advance. The defendants had sought review by justices after the lower court denied their requests for an en banc hearing before all active judges.
In a statement, Householder’s attorney, Scott Pullins, said the outcome was “a sad day” for the Borges and Householder families and “even a sadder day for free speech and the rule of law.” Pullins added that lower courts had asked for years for the Supreme Court “to clarify its rulings and they have once again declined to do so,” and he said the case would continue through executive action.
Pullins said Householder would “return to our efforts to release Speaker Householder from his unjust, excessive incarnation via executive action,” framing the next step as a presidential pardon effort. The statement also said Pullins had earlier floated the idea of Householder seeking a pardon before backing off.
Householder’s and Borges’ convictions were secured by the Department of Justice in March 2023 following a yearslong investigation and a trial that lasted more than six weeks. Prosecutors’ case included alleged efforts to elect allies, gain power, pass House Bill 6, and then defend the legislation from attempts to repeal it.
Householder, now 66, received a sentence of 20 years in prison for masterminding what prosecutors described as a scheme funded through Akron-based FirstEnergy Corp. That alleged plan included securing passage of a $1 billion bailout for two of FirstEnergy’s affiliated nuclear plants and efforts to defend the bill after its passage.
Borges, 53, was sentenced to five years for helping undermine the repeal effort. He was released to a halfway house in Cincinnati in October, with the Bureau of Prisons indicating he is scheduled to be released Nov. 12.
With the Supreme Court’s decision, the convictions stand as affirmed at the federal appellate level, closing the defendants’ path through the high court as they continue facing the consequences of the sentences already imposed.