The Cleveland City Council plans to vote Aug. 12 to launch an independent investigation into an alleged corruption scheme in Ohio used to support two nuclear plants, according to an Aug. 10 report by Cleveland.com. The Cleveland council's investigation will reportedly focus on whether any of the parties accused in the federal investigation also intended to "destabilize" city-owned utility Cleveland Public Power.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Ohio and the FBI on July 21 announced charges related to more than $60 million in bribes allegedly paid to Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder and his associates to steer nuclear subsidy legislation, titled House Bill 6, through the state Legislature. Although the indictment did not specifically name the company, FirstEnergy Corp. is implicated in the corruption investigation, as well as its former subsidiary, Energy Harbor Corp., which owns the nuclear plants.
City Council President Kevin Kelley said the investigation will examine whether FirstEnergy, listed but not charged as "Company A" in the federal indictment, was involved in efforts against the city of Cleveland and its public electric utility.
"I believe if this was some outside attempt to destabilize Cleveland Public Power, we have an obligation of investigate," Kelley was quoted as saying during a meeting of the city council's finance committee. "If you peel this [H.B. 6] back, it really did have a harmful effect on the city of Cleveland."
The Cleveland City Council has authority under the city's charter to subpoena witnesses, according to the report, though it has been years since it exercised that power. Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson will need to approve the resolution, which he is expected to do.
"Council has reason to believe that Company A has other long-term public policy goals specific to the City of Cleveland: to restrict or destroy Cleveland Public Power and to influence or control the City's legislative body as well as its executive branch," the resolution reportedly states.