HBO doc digs into Ohio's biggest bribery scandal

State of play: The series is directed by Alex Gibney and inspired by Jane Mayer's book "Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right."

• "Ohio Confidential" features the suicide of lobbyist Neil Clark to unravel the story of FirstEnergy's $60 million bribery scheme, which secured power for Speaker of the House Larry Householder and 2019 passage of the controversial energy bailout.
• Householder was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison in 2023 and is currently incarcerated at FCI Elkton in Lisbon, Ohio.

Zoom in: Featured in the film are Mayer herself, former Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor, Columbus Dispatch reporter Laura A. Bischoff, and a number of federal lawyers and investigators.

💭 Sam's thought bubble: I know the ins and outs of the case by now, but I'm still eager to watch this and thrilled the material is getting professional treatment and distribution on a major platform.

"Wealth of the Wicked," the second film in the series, traces the history of campaign finance in the U.S. from the creation of the Federal Election Commission in 1974.

• It debuts on HBO Wednesday.

Tune in: "Ohio Confidential" airs 9pm Tuesday, and will be available to stream on Max Tuesday as well.