(Columbus, OH)— The following statement of response to the indictment of former PUCO Chairman Sam Randazzo is attributed to Rachael Belz, CEO of Ohio Citizen Action:

“Today, former Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) Chairman Sam Randazzo was charged in an 11-count indictment related to the $61 million scandal surrounding House Bill 6, uncovered in July of 2020.

Ohio Citizen Action and our members around Ohio thank the FBI and US Attorney’s office for remaining vigilant in their ongoing investigation of Randazzo’s alleged crimes involving fraud and embezzlement, some of which are just coming to light today. While this indictment was a long time coming, we are hopeful that it will be a step forward in clearing the cloud of corruption hanging over energy policy in Ohio and ending the cycle of deceit perpetrated by FirstEnergy and their allies.

Our organization opposed the appointment of Randazzo from the beginning of the nomination process. His decades-long career as an anti-clean energy lobbyist and lawyer made him the wrong choice to oversee regulation of Ohio’s utilities and protect Ohio consumers. His self-serving, potentially criminal activity did a great disservice to our state and our energy customers.

Ohio Citizen Action will continue to watch as these proceedings unfold and again extend our gratitude to the FBI and US Attorney’s office for their steadfast commitment to bringing all those behind this travesty to justice.”