Prominent lobbyist appeals 5-year prison sentence in historic Ohio corruption scheme

Lobbyist Matt Borges is contesting his 5-year sentence in the $60 million bribery scheme that also took down former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder. The 51-year-old former Ohio Republican Party chair appealed his punishment to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals late Wednesday. After showing remorse, Borges received the lightest sentence recommended by federal prosecutors. The decision came a day after U.S. District Court Judge Timothy Black gave Householder 20 years, a sentence also has appealed. The scheme involved secret payments by Akron-based FirstEnergy Corp. to secure Householder’s power, elect allies, then pass and defend a $1.3 billion nuclear bailout.