The article discusses the suicide of Sam Randazzo, Ohio’s former top energy regulator, who was found dead at a warehouse in Columbus. Randazzo was indicted as part of a corruption case involving a $1 billion bailout bill for FirstEnergy’s nuclear power plants. He was accused of taking a bribe from the company and faced federal charges, including travel act bribery, wire fraud, and making illegal monetary transactions. The state of Ohio also indicted Randazzo alongside FirstEnergy’s ex-CEO and senior vice president on 27 different felony violations, including bribery and money laundering.
Randazzo’s death marks the second person tied to the case who died from apparent suicide, with lobbyist Neil Clark also found dead in 2021. The scandal involving FirstEnergy and the passage of House Bill 6 has been a tragic saga since 2019, causing significant repercussions in Ohio’s political landscape. The freeze of Randazzo’s assets was requested by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost in 2021 after it was revealed that he received $4.3 million for his consulting services related to the bill, which sent millions of dollars in subsidies to FirstEnergy.
The former chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio resigned from his position in November 2020 after the FBI searched his home. Despite going years without facing charges in the corruption case, Randazzo was ultimately indicted on federal charges, leading to his death by suicide. The building where his body was found was owned by a shell company linked to Randazzo, further implicating his involvement in the bribery scandal that rocked Ohio’s political landscape.
The Ohio governor’s office, House, and Senate leadership declined to comment on Randazzo’s death. The impact of his suicide and the larger corruption case involving FirstEnergy have left many in shock and mourning. For those in need of support during a mental health crisis, resources such as the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline and the Crisis Text Helpline are available 24/7. The legacy of Sam Randazzo and the scandal surrounding the passage of the $1 billion bailout bill for FirstEnergy’s nuclear power plants continues to have far-reaching consequences in Ohio.
