Former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder has formally appealed his 20-year prison sentence, just under two weeks after being handed the maximum penalty for his role in a massive corruption scandal. The 64-year-old Republican, currently held in county jail, was sentenced on June 29th following his conviction for orchestrating what's been called the largest corruption scheme in Ohio's history.

Federal prosecutors had pushed for a sentence between 16 and 20 years, while Householder's defense argued for a significantly shorter term of 12 to 18 months, citing the public humiliation and personal toll the ordeal had taken on him, his family, and friends. However, U.S. District Judge Timothy Black cited Householder's lack of remorse as a factor in his decision, noting that the former speaker focused his plea for leniency on the impact of his imprisonment on his loved ones rather than accepting responsibility for his actions.

The seven-week trial concluded this past winter with a jury finding Householder guilty of masterminding a $60 million bribery scheme. The scheme, secretly financed by FirstEnergy Corp., an Akron-based utility company, aimed to bolster Householder's political power, ensure the election of his allies, and secure the passage of a $1.3 billion bailout for nuclear power plants. The scheme also involved efforts to suppress a referendum seeking to overturn the bailout legislation through unethical tactics.

Lobbyist Matt Borges, a former chair of the Ohio Republican Party, was also convicted for his involvement in the scheme and received a 5-year sentence, the minimum recommended by prosecutors. Borges has also considered appealing his sentence. Householder, once considered one of Ohio's most influential political figures, was arrested in 2021. Known for his sharp political instincts, which some described as bordering on intimidation, Householder was removed from his leadership position in the House shortly after his indictment but resisted calls to resign for nearly a year before ultimately being expelled in a historic vote.

The investigation into the bribery scandal remains ongoing, and it's possible that further charges may be filed against former FirstEnergy executives and the former head of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio.