![Rep. Larry Householder (R-Glenford), former House Speaker [Andy Chow /Statehouse News Bureau]](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8d3502a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1354x1034+0+0/resize/840x642!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Flegacy%2Fimages%2Fnews%2Fnpr%2F2020%2F09%2F909251116_1309994169.jpg)
Former House Speaker Larry Householder (R-Glenford) pleaded not guilty in federal court to charge of racketeering Thursday.
Householder, who was among the most powerful Republican leaders in the state, is accused of taking part in a bribery scheme in exchange for passing a nuclear power plant bailout. Still a member of the Ohio House, he appeared in court after several weeks of delay in order to find a new lawyer.
He entered his plea of not guilty, which he told reporters he would do just days ago during a surprise gaggle on the House floor earlier this week.
"I am innocent, I am going to defend myself vigorously," Householder said on Tuesday.
A utility, believed to be FirstEnergy and a subsidiary, is accused of pumping millions of dollars into a dark money group. Investigators say Householder used that money for his own personal and political gain.
All the defendants in the case have pleaded not guilty.
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