Judge denies ex-regulator’s request to get Ohio corruption trial moved
Sam Randazzo had sought to move his case from Cincinnati Columbus. A federal judge has denied a request by former top Ohio utilities regulator, Randazzo, to move his corruption trial from Cincinnati to Columbus, Ohio. This decision ensures that the judge who sentenced ex-Speaker Larry Householder to the maximum 20-year prison sentence will continue to oversee this case. U.S. District Judge Timothy Black stated that he was unconersuaded by Randazo's arguments that keeping the case in Cincinnati would be a medical, financial and emotional burden, compared to moving it to Columbus. Randazzos is accused of taking bribes from FirstEnergy in exchange for favorable rulings.
Published : a month ago by Andrew Tobias | [email protected], andrewjtobias, Andrew Tobias in Politics
COLUMBUS, Ohio — A federal judge has denied a former top Ohio utilities regulator’s request to move his corruption trial from Cincinnati to Columbus, a development that will help ensure that judge who sentenced ex-Speaker Larry Householder to the maximum 20-year prison sentence will continue to oversee this case too.
Siding with prosecutors, U.S. District Judge Timothy Black in a Thursday ruling said he was unpersuaded by Randazzo’s arguments that keeping the case in the federal courthouse in Cincinnati would be a medical, financial and emotional burden, compared to moving it to Columbus, where Randazzo lives.
“In sum, while the Court acknowledges that a trial in Columbus would certainly be more convenient to Defendant, the Court cannot conclude that holding the trial in Cincinnati would pose a significant inconvenience, nor would it in any way prejudice or harm Defendant’s case or constitutional rights,” Black wrote.
Randazzo had asked to move the trial to Columbus, citing factors including a medical condition that he said makes long drives uncomfortable, the expense of alternately booking a hotel room in Cincinnati and the inconvenience to potential witnesses in Columbus as well as family and friends in the Columbus area who would be burdened by the commute from being able to lend Randazzo emotional support.
And while Randazzo didn’t explicitly ask for a different judge, and even floated the idea of Black driving to Columbus to hear the case, his filing asking for the change in venue also noted that there were federal judges in Columbus who could oversee the case instead.
Black rejected the request, saying his familiarity with the Householder trial would help him better understand the case against Randazzo.
“To be clear, this is not to say that any of the Court’s esteemed Columbus-based colleagues could not effectively take over for this Court. But it is unquestionably more efficient for this Court to continue presiding over a case involving issues, allegations, and context that the Court is already familiar with, rather than for another Judge to start anew,” Black said.
Before Randazzo’s indictment, Black oversaw the early 2023 trial of Householder, a semi-related case in which Householder was accused and convicted of taking a bribe from FirstEnergy. Over the course of the trial, Householder’s lawyers engaged in shouting matches with Black, accusing him of bias and unfair rulings based on what they described as a grudge against Householder, who Black eventually sentenced to 20 years in prison.
At sentencing, Black said Householder “conned” Ohio and abandoned his duty to improve the lives of Ohioans to instead appease “a bunch of suits with private jets.” Instead of delaying service of his sentence, Black remanded Householder immediately because “the court and the community’s patience for Mr. Householder” has expired.
Randazzo is accused of taking his own bribes from FirstEnergy in exchange for favorable rulings as the PUCO chairman. He has pleaded not guilty.
In his Thursday order, Black made pointed observations while refuting various arguments that Randazzo made about why the the trial should be moved.
For instance, Randazzo described the two-hour commute each way from Randazzo’s house in Columbus to the federal courthouse in Cincinnati. Black said Randazzo could shave time off the trip by leaving strategically to avoid rush-hour traffic.
Randazzo said a medical condition causes him to experience back pain when he sits for a prolonged period of time. Black responded that Randazzo also will be spending long hours sitting in the courtroom, and pointed out that Randazzo’s filing said his back pain is relieved by spinal injections.
“Therefore, it would appear that the solution to Defendant’s medical concern would be more effectively and appropriately addressed through a medical professional, rather than this Court,” Black said.
Finally, Randazzo said the alternative of booking a hotel in Cincinnati would be a financial burden, saying his only current source of income is retirement distributions and Social Security income.
Black responded that from financial information Randazzo has shared with the court, it appears that he’s financially comfortable, and said there are cheaper alternatives on the lodging market that Randazzo and his lawyers, Roger Sugarman and Andrew DeVooght could share.
“Indeed, a cursory online search for month-long rentals in Cincinnati evidences that there are numerous options for conveniently located three-bedroom residences (which, notably, would accommodate not only Defendant and Mr. Sugarman, but Mr. DeVooght, as well), for an average of less than $3,000 per month—a fraction of the cost Defendant cites for just two hotel rooms,” Black said.
A message has been left with Sugarman seeking comment for this story.
Andrew Tobias covers state politics and government for cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer
Topics: Corruption