Catch up quick on the Larry Householder corruption trial

The highly anticipated corruption trial of former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder begins Monday in Cincinnati.

Why it matters: The case involves what a former federal prosecutor once called "likely the largest bribery and money-laundering scheme ever in the state of Ohio."

• The scandal cost taxpayers millions and is a sign Ohioans may want to keep a closer watch on our local Capitol Square amid shadowy dealmaking.

Catch up quick: Householder is accused of conspiring with Akron-based FirstEnergy in a pay-for-play scandal to bail out two private nuclear power plants with a $1 billion bill in 2019.

• Millions in dark money went toward electing Householder-friendly lawmakers across the state — who then elevated him to the speaker's chair — and fighting a petition to repeal the bailout.
• The Perry County official also used the money to pay off private credit card debt, legal fees and home expenses, investigators allege.
• He was later ousted as speaker and expelled from the legislature.

State of play: Two others, including a former Householder associate, have already pleaded guilty and plan to testify against him.

• In 2021, FirstEnergy agreed to a deferred prosecution settlement. For acknowledging having paid Householder in exchange for beneficial legislation, it agreed to pay a $230 million settlement.
• The "dark money" group that concealed the funding's sources pleaded guilty to racketeering in 2021 as well.
• The only other defendant to plead not guilty, former Ohio GOP chairman Matt Borges, also goes on trial this week.

• An additional defendant, lobbyist Neil Clark, died by suicide in 2021.

The other side: Householder has maintained innocence since his July 2020 arrest.

• “I have not nor have I ever taken a bribe or solicited or been solicited for taking a bribe,” he told legislative colleagues before they voted to expel him.

Separately, Gov. Mike DeWine has denied knowledge of the alleged scheme despite myriad connections between his administration and FirstEnergy.

• Having supported the initial nuclear bailout, he later signed a bill repealing it.

Of note: In the years since the scandal broke, lawmakers have attempted to reform state campaign finance rules to be more transparent.

What's next: The trial is expected to last up to six weeks, AP reports.