There’s a term called “failing up.”
But in Ohio, politicians “scandal up.” Being part of scandals doesn’t cost you — it’s how you get ahead.
The Ohio poster child of “scandalling up” is Lt. Gov. Jon Husted.
And today, Husted’s “scandalling up” will include being named to replace JD Vance as Ohio’s next US Senator.
Broadly, Husted has played a key role in major controversies and scandals ever since his time as Speaker of the House in the early 2000s. Arguably more than any figure.
To name a few: Husted played a role in gerrymandering the state, twice; he lost cases at the Supreme Court trying to suppress votes before presidential elections; he lost a case trying to suppress young votes; he purged millions of voters from the rolls; he supported a direct attack on Ohio’s democracy (in 2023) and lost; he opposed reproductive freedom in 2023, and lost.
His main role as Lieutenant Governor in recent years has been economic development. Yet despite endless Husted grandstanding and millions doled out, Ohio’s recent (between 4Q 2021 and 3Q 2023) GDP growth ranks 45th in the nation.
Since he began meddling in Ohio’s education system, Ohio has plummeted in the quality of our education—from 5th in the nation in 2010 to the mid-20s, according to Education Week.
So how, amid all this, did Husted move ahead?
To answer that, let me tell you about the worst parts of his record. Because in the broken culture of Ohio politics, “worst” in other worlds turns out to be the keys to success here.
Scandal 1: Selling Off Public Education To the Highest Bidder
Husted’s education story begins back when he was Speaker of the House. And the failed record here isn’t about policy (although the “policy” has been a disaster), it’s about pay to play, and intentionally removing accountability to fuel that pay to play (a pattern that plays out repeatedly).
Specifically, the key moment came in 2005. New reckless experiments in for-profit charter schools were already displaying problems, although the architects were also emerging as big-dollar donors to GOP politicians. Pay to play at its worst—selling public education funds to private bidders.
An agency called the Legislative Office of Education Oversight—whose role it had been to provide oversight of education, and these new, for-profit schools—issued warnings that these new for-profit companies were fraught with risk, to students, and to taxpayers.
Later, when the State Board of Education “tried to persuade lawmakers to put online charter school regulations into [a] bill.” , along with e-school regulations, Husted and the legislature also killed those efforts.
The new industry exploded, beginning Ohio’s downward spiral of wasted dollars and declining education outcomes while the recipients of these dollars converted a portion of them back into political donations. A classic pay-to-play scheme.
What difference did all this Husted handiwork make?
Just ask ECOT—the online for-profit charter school that emerged as the biggest player (and GOP donor), and later turned into one of the biggest scandals in Ohio history. (Horrible results, of course, but ECOT also collected millions in taxpayer funds for “students” they could not prove existed, prompting an FBI investigation).
For all his hard work on their behalf, ECOT bestowed Husted with their first honorary degree (Husted also received $36,000 from ECOT-related donors over the years. The party and others received far more.)
And when they gave him that degree, they said: “Without Speaker Jon Husted ... the ECOT revolution in e-learning in Ohio may have ended.”
In any normal, rule-of-law state, you’d think this level if disaster and culpability on something as important as education would be the end.
But this is Ohio politics and government.
Husted refused to give the funds back even after the scam imploded, with ECOT’s founder going bankrupt amid an FBI investigation. And when he’s asked about the scandal now, he shamelessly blames the very bodies whose warnings he defied.
Even worse, Husted wasn’t done yet even with undermining public schools.
State School Board Takeover
With more and more questions circulating around both for-profit charters and the explosion of vouchers (another looming disaster Husted takes credit for), voters in 2022 elected new members of the Ohio state school board who were dedicated to supporting public schools again.
What happened right after those candidates won a majority of the elected board positions—bringing back some needed independence to scrutinize the plummeting situation in a state that was once a forerunner in public education?
A big push to rip power away from that board. To keep the new oversight from coming.
And who was out front championing the removal of this independent oversight of our schools, more than anyone?
You guessed it, Jon Husted. Same trick that he pulled with for-profit schools:
Even though 74% of Ohioans disagree with the power grab from a body THEY elect…
…and even though the Ohio Constitution establishes a separate education board and department, a provision the voters put in place decades ago precisely out of the concern that guardrails were needed, Husted pushed hard and publicly to make this happen.
And it did.
So now, most of the education decisions that have proved so disastrous—that led to one of the largest scandals in Ohio history—are even further behind closed doors.
Scandal 2: Selling Energy Policy To the Highest Bidder
If ECOT is the second largest scandal in Ohio history, number one is the First Energy scandal. Once again, Husted played an intimate role in making it all happen.
The heart of the scandal, as laid out in federal and state indictments, is that an insider energy utility lobbyist was paid a hefty sum—$4.3 million—by a large utility called First Energy (which later admitted it was indeed a bribe) shortly before being tapped to run Ohio’s utilities commission (PUCO), with an understanding that this insider will do what they ask (“as requested and as opportunities arise”) once he’s assigned that oversight role.
Think about that: A utility hand-picking and paying a lobbyist with $4.3 million because he oversees the body that regulates it. That is as corrupt gets. And so damaging to the public interest in so many ways—from how much we pay in rates to how we compete in the 21st century.
Anyway, this initial act later exploded into the largest scandal in Ohio history, taking twists and turns so extreme that two people involved (including the bribed lobbyist) commit suicide.
But the most damning part of what started it all is not that the bribed lobbyist got appointed.
It’s how he got appointed.
And who was at the center of that decision?
You guessed it….Jon Husted.
The Damning Timeline
First, take a look at this document:
The timeline makes clear that on December 17 and 18, 2018, Sam Randazzo (the appointed lobbyist) communicates about the vacancy on the utility commission, then sends a message detailing $4.3M in payments he wants made from 2019-2024.
Within a day of the message about the payment, the executives respond that they will pay the entire $4.3M right away. Only 13 days later(!)—Dec. 31–the executives send him the entire $4.3M.
Two days later, Randazzo receives it. Happy New Year!
So—the payment is not only offered but fully paid.
Now look at this document:
That’s right—Randazzo doesn’t even apply for the position with the utility commission until weeks later—on January 17!
Think about that: the “Executives” paid Randazzo $4.3M—both agreeing to and letting the full amount out the door—in December. Not only before he was named to lead the utility commission, but before he even applied.
The $4.3M Question: How Did They Know?
Paying him before he even applies for the position begs the obvious question: how were they already so confident he’d get the job—before he even applied for it—that they sent him $4.3 million in advance?
Was someone on the inside, or at the top, of the State’s selection process already giving them assurances—assurances so secure that they were that comfortable parting with $4M?
In other words, did they know parting with the $4.3M wasn’t a risk at all? Because it was already a done deal? Before he ever applied?
Well….
The Room Where It Happened
Who are the key decisionmakers for an appointment such as this? The newly elected Governor and Lt. Governor, that’s who.
And who is also all over the broader timeline of events taking place when the payment and appointment are made?
His name doesn’t rhyme with Busted, but it shares all but one letter:
As I’ve explained in past videos, on the evening of December 18, 2018 (after the request for payment by Randazzo), at the Athletic Club of Columbus, Jon Hustedand the Governor attend a dinner with First Energy executives, including one directly involved with the bribe. Afterward, the First Energy CEO sends Randazzo a text “indicating they discussed the open PUCO seat,” and that they discussed Randazzo in particular.
Husted claims he doesn’t remember what was discussed: “Husted didn’t dispute that the dinner occurred but said he doesn’t remember if they talked about Randazzo’s appointment.”
But the later indictments might refresh his recollection:
FIRST, one of the indictments says outright: “During the dinner, Randazzo’s name was discussed as a candidate for PUCO Chairman.” And later text messages revealed that “Jones and Dowling learned that Randazzo was the incoming administration’s preferred candidate.”
SECOND, one indictment included a copy of the written crib notes of a First Energy executive of what they planned to discuss at the dinner, and advice on how to approach the conversation. The note specifically tells the executive how to handle the meeting and frame the PUCO appointment.
But even more importantly, these notes make it clear that “Jon H.” is already keyed in on the details:
The notes refer to a “2-person PUCO deal” that a lobbyist has already discussed with “boss.” “…[H]e has discussed with Jon H…Jon is getting some negative feedback (maybe from Sam R.?)”
So Jon Husted not only knows going into this dinner key details of ideas being pushed within the First Energy world. But the note-writer thinks Husted may even have heard directly back from Randazzo about one of those details.
Bottom line: at the dinner, Husted was told that “PUCO and the chair spot specifically is so important to [First Energy’s] business and our success.” According to the indictment, “Randazzo’s name was discussed as a candidate…,” and First Energy learned that Randazzo “was the incoming administration’s preferred candidate.” When the dinner ended, those same executives met with Randazzo, and arranged to pay him $4.3M, which they did within two weeks. Randazzo was nominated weeks after tha.
So if we’re looking for which public officials allowed for the capture of state government by private interests, Husted looks to be at the top of the totem pole.
The detail guy—the insider who already knew specifics beforehand.
But there’s more:
Randazzo later testified publicly about who “recruited” him to serve in the PUCO role: “He specified during the confirmation hearing that Husted and Laurel Dawson…were among those who helped recruit him.” (Husted, as Speaker of the Ohio House, had also recruited Randazzo to be on the commission years before (2007) as well.)
On January 18, 2019, First Energy Executives texted one another about anotherPUCO appointment that they worry will turn into a “high hurdle”:
FE Executive: “‘Jason has a high hurdle and I don’t know if he will be able to clear it."“
FE CEO: “It’s called Jon Husted but hopefully you lowered that hurdle today.”
A text chain a week after that shows that the FE Executive had a call with Husted to keep tabs on the Randazzo appointment. “Had a great conversation with Gov this morning,” Husted had told him.
And on another occasion, Husted comes through once again. When Randazzo’s nomination hit a rough patch, apparently Husted (“State Official 2”) “perform[ed] battlefield triage.”
I think this is what we call a pattern:
From beginning to the final appointment, Husted is intimately and intensely involved. The insider doing First Energy’s work for them. And this, as you’d expect, follows massive dark money support of Husted by First Energy.
Years later, the executives at that fateful dinner have been indicted:
Sadly, the lobbyist Husted “recruited” has not only been indicted, but committed suicide.
And the Ohio Attorney General is still investigating it all.
But what about Husted, whose name must be all over that AG investigation as it continues?
Despite ALL of this, he will today be named the next U.S. Senator of Ohio.
All of Ohio’s GOP—both the new and the old guard—will surround him and celebrate. And my guess is, the media will hardly mention these scandals.
And all of this will be a statement about how much deep corruption and pay-to play have become the heart of Ohio politics.
One other thing:
As a US Senator, Husted will soon be tasked with weighing in on nominees for Trump cabinet appointments who face their own scandals—people like Pete Hegseth and others.
Given his own history of “scandalling up,” what do we think he’ll do?
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