Gov. Mike DeWine says no indication that Sam Randazzo is a target after PUCO chairman’s home searched by FBI

Sam Randazzo

Public Utilities Commission of Ohio Chairman Sam Randazzo. (Photo from Public Utilities Commission of Ohio)

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said Tuesday that although Public Utilities Commission of Ohio Chairman Sam Randazzo’s home was searched by the FBI the day before, there’s no reason to believe Randazzo is under investigation by the FBI.

DeWine said Tuesday he had not spoken with Randazzo about the search at his home. He did not directly answer when asked if he felt comfortable with Randazzo continuing to serve in his position.

“We have no indication he’s under investigation or he’s the target of an investigation. We’ll wait until we find additional facts but we don’t have any indication of that at this point," he said.

Pressed further in a follow-up question, DeWine said the FBI at times will indicate whether someone is the target of an investigation, and as far as he is aware, they haven’t done so this case.

“We’re waiting for additional information, quite candidly. I hired him. I think he’s a good person. If there’s evidence to the contrary, then we’ll act accordingly. But I’m not going to act without facts.”

Agents were seen Monday morning entering and exiting Randazzo’s home in Columbus' German Village neighborhood, carrying out boxes and paper bags of records. They declined to comment. An FBI spokesman confirmed the search, saying it was related to a search warrant sealed by a federal judge, but offered no additional details.

Michael Benza, an attorney and law instructor at Case Western Reserve University, said the FBI search itself is not definitive proof that Randazzo is under investigation. But the fact that federal agents showed up at Randazzo’s home early in the morning suggests they were worried they might not get the records if they were to just request them with a subpoena, he said.

“It certainly suggests they are looking at him for criminal activity. But it’s not definitive,” he said.

The warrant to search Randazzo’s home was granted by a federal judge under seal. To get such a warrant, the government would have to show a judge they have concrete evidence that the materials they want are there, he said. Law enforcement often will ask to seal warrants to protect their ongoing investigation.

Randazzo has chaired the PUCO, which regulates electricity providers and other utilities in Ohio, since DeWine appointed him in February 2019. Before that, he was a longtime lawyer for the utility industry, a connection that has drawn criticism from environmental groups, who recently launched a campaign to oust him.

The PUCO earlier this month began an audit of FirstEnergy to see whether the company broke any laws or regulations regarding its interactions with an ex-subsidiary while the companies pushed to secure the passage of House Bill 6, a $1 billion-plus ratepayer bailout of two nuclear power plants the former subsidiary owns.

The search at Randazzo’s home follows more than a year of investigation by the FBI into the Ohio state government. The FBI in July arrested then-House Speaker Larry Householder and four others, charging them with accepting $61 million in bribes from FirstEnergy and its affiliates in exchange for Householder’s help passing HB6. The money was spent to help Householder become speaker, to pressure lawmakers to pass HB6 and then to defend it against a repeal effort, authorities said.

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