The U.S. Supreme Court declined to review the RICO convictions of former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder and lobbyist Matt Borges, who were convicted for bribing FirstEnergy to secure subsidies for its nuclear plants. The decision marks the end of the appeals process for Householder and Borges. Ohio's largest utility corruption scandal arose out of efforts by the utility FirstEnergy to obtain more than $1 billion in subsidies for its former nuclear plants in the state. Although lawmakers revoked that part of the law in 2021, HB 6 still cost Ohio utility customers approximately half a billion dollars and delayed the state's energy transition by gutting its clean energy standards and subsidizing two 1950s-era coal plants. In 2020, the federal government indicted former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder and lobbyist Matt Borges, a previous head of the Ohio Republican Party, among others, on charges related to HB 6. The racketeering charges included allegations that the defendants had accepted some $60 million in bribes from FirstEnergy and its subsidiaries in exchange for their actions in pushing HB 6 through the legislature and then blocking a bid to let voters reject the law. FirstEnergy admitted it had bribed Householder in a 2021 deferred prosecution agreement. Householder and Borges were convicted in federal court in 2023 for violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, commonly known as RICO. The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the convictions last May. The men appealed the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court in petitions last December. Householder and Borges essentially argued that they couldn't be held liable because, in supporting HB 6, Householder was carrying out a campaign promise to FirstEnergy — and such promises are protected by the First Amendment. The government responded unequivocally: There was no basis for reversing the convictions. "The Court has explained that the First Amendment does not protect corruption, whose 'hallmark' is 'the financial quid pro quo: dollars for political favors,'" lawyers for the Department of Justice wrote in their brief in March. The Supreme Court's April 27 order is the end point of the Householder and Borges appeals process. It does not say why the justices denied review. The ruling leaves open a path for prosecutors in the related federal criminal case against former FirstEnergy executives Chuck Jones and Michael Dowling. The two men face retrial in September on state criminal charges after jurors failed to reach a verdict in March. The trial date for the federal case has yet to be set. Scott Pullins, a longtime lawyer for Householder on other matters, said it was a sad day for Householder's and Borges' families, and "even a sadder day for free speech and the rule of law." Efforts to release Householder through executive action — perhaps a presidential pardon or commuted sentence — would resume, he added. For now, clean energy advocates are counting the court's action this week as a win. "If we want more clean energy, then we need clean government," said Howard Learner, CEO and president of the Environmental Law and Policy Center. "The racketeering conspiracy and bribery actions engaged in by Householder distorted the public process, leading to unfair FirstEnergy utility charges. Justice is now being served."