Former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder is still facing an indictment for a $61 million racketeering scheme. In July of 2020, Householder and four of his associates were arrested for racketeering by the FBI in what they call the largest bribery and money laundering scheme.
A few days back, a House committee debated whether or not to remove him from the state government. The House Rules and Reference committee debated for almost two hours over two separate resolutions to the issue at hand. One was put forth by House Republicans and the other by Democrats. Of the two resolutions, the house debated most over the Republican resolution, HR 69, which examined the legality of removing Householder altogether.
Rep. Bill Seitz said to his colleagues, "There has been no proven bribery, vote-stealing or any of that, and these are simply allegations working their way through the court system. If, as I assume, we should look at how the General Assembly has previously defined 'disorderly conduct' for guidance in this case...which of those things has (Householder) done?"
Seitz is against removing Householder as he argues that he has done nothing wrong that calls for his removal in respect to the Ohio criminal law. The law includes nothing about corruption cases which Householder is tied up in. The last time a representative was expelled from the legislature was in 1857 when they punched another member in the face on the Ohio House floor. That incident called for a removal, but this one does not.
On the other hand, Rep. Brian Stewart countered Seitz argument with the following, “"If the argument is that, 'shucks, disorderly conduct is only limited to punching your neighbor and spitting tobacco the wrong way,' and it does not apply when you are indicted for selling legislation, then frankly, we're just going to have to have a difference of opinion on that." Stewart pointed out how despite facing indictment, Householder is still an elected representative and he is voting on bills and resolutions like the budget.
He compared this scenario to a regular business in Ohio and how Householder would have been fired immediately. "If a bank teller gets caught stealing, they do not get to keep their hand in the cash drawer for a year while their case makes its way through the courts."
Housholder is telling everyone to allow the process to play out on its own. He will have an opportunity to partake in this process in the coming week. Bob Cupp, the current House Speaker and Rules and reference committee chairman, has requested Householder to testify on June 15.