Franklin County Court of Common Pleas issues order compelling former FirstEnergy employees to testify in investigations into House Bill 6 scandal

Courtesy of Ohio Consumers' Counsel 

Franklin County Court of Common Pleas has issued an order compelling former FirstEnergy employees to testify in the PUCO’s ongoing consumer investigations into the House Bill 6 (HB 6) scandal. 

The court's action follows a critical agreement among the Ohio Consumers' Counsel (OCC), the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, and other involved parties to obtain answers for FirstEnergy consumers about the cost of corruption they paid for. 

A copy of the Court’s order is available in the PUCO docket here: https://dis.puc.state.oh.us/DocumentRecord.aspx?DocID=e97c24b2-7f1b-440…

This significant development will require the former FirstEnergy officials to answer detailed questions regarding their involvement in the HB 6 scandal.  These officials previously declined to testify, invoking their Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. OCC will have the opportunity to cross-examine the witnesses.

The individuals that will testify at hearing include:

Dennis Chack, former Senior Vice President of Product Development, Marketing, and Branding;

Joel Bailey, former FirstEnergy lobbyist;

Justin Biltz, former FirstEnergy lobbyist; and

Ty Pine, former FirstEnergy lobbyist.

Legal counsel for the former officials previously indicated that following this ruling, their clients will speak openly for the first time in the consumer investigations.

The upcoming hearing is part of four ongoing consumer investigations at the PUCO into the HB 6 scandal—investigations that were largely opened in response to requests by the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel.

"This court order is a win for Ohio consumers," said Ohio Consumers’ Counsel's Maureen Willis.
 
"We’re finally getting the chance to question key players and uncover the truth behind the FirstEnergy scandal. Ohioans deserve answers.”

The hearing is scheduled to begin June 10.