Former FirstEnergy executives seek dismissal of case after being reindicted in House Bill 6 scandal

Attorneys for former FirstEnergy executives Chuck Jones and Michael Dowling asked a Summit County judge Friday to dismiss several charges following an initial mistrial in the Ohio House Bill 6 public corruption case.

The hearing focused on post-verdict motions for acquittal after a jury earlier this year failed to reach a unanimous verdict on charges tied to the state’s long-running investigation into House Bill 6, the 2019 law that provided a $1.3 billion bailout for two Ohio nuclear power plants. Jones’ attorney, Carol Rendon, argued prosecutors failed to prove charges including bribery, telecommunications fraud and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity.

“A promise plus a payment cannot be a pattern,” Rendon told the court. “Period.”

Rendon argued prosecutors improperly built the corrupt activity charge around what she described as a single transaction involving former Public Utilities Commission of Ohio Chairman Sam Randazzo. Prosecutors disagreed, arguing evidence presented during the trial was sufficient for a jury to conclude Jones participated in a scheme intended to benefit FirstEnergy.

Prosecutors reindicted Jones and Dowling this week and are seeking to try the pair again.