3News has confirmed Sam Randazzo, the former chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio who found himself embroiled in the largest public corruption scandal in state history, has died by apparent suicide at the age of 74.
The Franklin County Coroner's Office says Randazzo was found dead inside a building on East Mound Street in Columbus. According to officials, his body was hanging from a rope in the rafters. Records from the Franklin County Auditor's Office list the building's owner as Sustainability Funding Alliance of Ohio, an LLC owned by Randazzo.
Randazzo's death comes just months following his indictments for bribery in connection with the Ohio House Bill 6 scandal. He faced both state and federal charges for allegedly taking an illegal $4.3 million payment from FirstEnergy prior to his nomination as PUCO chairman.
Details of the scandal first came to light in 2020, when then Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder and several others were arrested for their roles in the massive scheme. FirstEnergy later admitted to funneling millions of dollars to state politicians, regulators, and operatives to rally support for HB 6, which bailed out two nuclear power plants (including one in Lake County) that at the time were owned by a company subsidiary.
Months after Householder was charged, the FBI raided Randazzo's Columbus home, and he resigned as PUCO chairman that week. As part of a deferred prosecution agreement, FirstEnergy detailed a $4.3 million bribe it purportedly paid to Randazzo in exchange for his help supporting its agenda, including the tainted bill.
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