By FARNOUSH AMIRI Report for America/Associated Press, and staff
COLUMBUS— The GOP speaker of the Ohio House on Tuesday called for his predecessor, a fellow Republican under federal indictment in a $60 million bribery scheme, to resign his seat and leave the General Assembly.
Newly elected Speaker Bob Cupp called Rep. Larry Householder’s return to the Statehouse following his July 21 arrest “offensive” to members of the chamber and “brought disrepute upon the House.”
Householder was stripped of his speakership last month but remains a lawmaker and arrived at the Statehouse Tuesday ahead of a planned House session.
House Democrats criticized Householder for showing up despite what they say is a federal judge’s order for Householder to “avoid all contact directly or indirectly with any person who is or may become a victim or potential witness in the investigation.”
Householder says he’ll plead not guilty to a corruption charge.
He is accused of helping shepherd energy company money toward successful passage of a nuclear bailout bill last year.
The House and Senate have convened committee hearings to repeal the bailout legislation.