FirstEnergy explains 'ghost' contributions

SANDUSKY — FirstEnergy has finally explained the puzzling "ghost" contributions the company's political action committee reported making to many Ohio politicians. A spokeswoman said when the company became aware it was caught up in a federal bribery investigation, it held the checks and then canceled them. The company has been implicated in a bribery scandal involving former House Speaker Larry Householder and other state officials, who face federal charges. The allegations concern efforts allegedly made to pass a state law that saved two nuclear power plants, including Davis-Besse. Earlier this week, newspapers across Ohio reported a new campaign finance report filing from the FirstEnergy PAC showed contributions to dozens of politicians. The contributions reported included $2,500 to state Rep. D.J. Swearingen, R-Huron. But Swearingen told the Register he never got the money, and would have donated it to charity if he had. Other politicians and officials also reported not receiving the contributions. Thirteen Democrats in the Ohio House complained in a letter to Ohio's secretary of state, Frank LaRose, about the filing. "FirstEnergy PAC has incorrectly and inexplicably reported campaign contributions to various state legislators, many of whom have confirmed that they never received a check – including all of the signatories to this letter," the letter states. "Disclosure is so important, but disclosure of false information is as bad as secrecy." The PAC apparently did not fix the campaign filing but withheld the money at the last moment. A spokeswoman, Jennifer Young, emailed the Register with an explanation. "After several months of limited contributions due to the lack of fundraising events during the coronavirus shutdown, the FirstEnergy Political Action Committee (FEPAC) resumed contributions to Republican and Democrat candidates and officeholders in July 2020. FEPAC provides full disclosure and a monthly report of contributions to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) and OH Secretary of State. Donations are included in the report once they are put into the accounting system to generate a check," she wrote. "FirstEnergy opted to hold checks not yet mailed after the July 21 announcement of the Department of Justice investigation. Holding the checks allowed the company more time to investigate and assess the situation. FirstEnergy canceled outstanding checks from July 2020 out of an abundance of caution. Future reports to the FEC will properly reflect these voided checks," she wrote. "FEPAC will continue to make contributions to candidates and officeholders whose interests align with those of our customers, employees and shareholders in Ohio and the other states in which we operate and will fully disclose and report them according to established federal and state and requirements," Young wrote. FirstEnergy has not been charged with a crime but apparently faces several investigations, including one by the Securities and Exchange Commission.