COLUMBUS (AP) — Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has deflected questions regarding an FBI search of the Columbus home of the the state’s top utility regulator.
DeWine at a coronavirus briefing on Tuesday said “we’re waiting for additional information” about the search of the residence of Sam Randazzo, a longtime utility attorney and lobbyist DeWine appointed chair of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio in February 2019.
DeWine called Randazzo “a good person” and said he would not act “without the facts.”
DeWine has sole authority to remove PUCO members.
A PUCO spokesperson on Monday declined to comment about the search.
The FBI on Monday confirmed that it conducted activity at an address owned by Randazzo, who is also chairman of the Ohio Power Siting Board.
He is considered one of the top experts on public utility law in the state.