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THE GIRLS ARE FIGHTING: Jon Husted’s Out of Touch Comments Spur Bipartisan Backlash

TiffinOhio.net: Renacci blasts Husted over comments about people in poverty: ‘Should not have been appointed to Senate’

Jon Husted: “People living in poverty are just not very, they’re not very experienced at navigating the real world”

COLUMBUS, OHIO — Jon Husted’s latest comments claiming that struggling Ohioans are “not very experienced at navigating the real world” are so insulting that they are now spurring bipartisan backlash. Even Jim Renacci — former Ohio Congressman and the 2018 Republican nominee for U.S. Senate — blasted Husted for his remarks, saying “he should not have been appointed to the Senate” and “needs to never do [another] interview.”

Ohio Democratic Party Senior Communications Advisor Tony Wen released the following statement:

“It takes a lot for Ohioans to agree with Jim Renacci — but Jon Husted has somehow found a way to make it happen. Husted’s comments are so out of touch and arrogant that even Republicans are telling him to stop talking. Ohioans are tired of politicians in Washington voting to make everything more expensive, and they will send Jon Husted packing in November.” 

Read more: 

TiffinOhio.net: Renacci blasts Husted over comments about people in poverty: ‘Should not have been appointed to Senate’

  • U.S. Sen. Jon Husted said in a recent interview that people living in poverty are “not very experienced at navigating the real world,” remarks that have drawn criticism from both sides of the aisle — including from a prominent Ohio Republican.
  • Husted made the comments to conservative podcaster Nic Dunn. Speaking about poverty and financial literacy, Husted described a conversation with a woman who, he said, did not know “how money works at a grocery store” because she had spent her entire adult life using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits.
  • The remarks prompted a sharp response from Jim Renacci, the 2018 Republican nominee for U.S. Senate who lost to then-Sen. Sherrod Brown. Writing on Facebook the following day, Renacci said Husted “needs to never do [another] interview.”
  • “I was poor. My parents had very little. We survived. I did well. He is waving a broad brush with stupid comments,” Renacci wrote. “He should not have been appointed to the Senate. He spent his entire life trying to be Governor. He is now in the wrong world and his interviews prove it.”
  • Renacci added: “These interviews can only help Sherrod Brown.”

This interview is part of a long trend of Senator Husted showing how out of touch he is with hardworking Ohioans and blaming them as they struggle with skyrocketing gas, utility, grocery, and health care costs:

  • Husted has dismissed concerns from struggling Ohioans, claiming that he has helped lower grocery and gas prices and that affordability problems do not exist.
  • Husted revealed he has no solutions to actually lower prices, suggesting that Ohioans should just “earn more” money to make ends meet.
  • Husted insulted Ohioans working harder than ever, complaining that their “work ethic is broken.”
  • Husted defended his friends and donors, complaining about people saying “rich people [are] selfish” while attempting to justify his record of delivering tax breaks to the rich.

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HUSTED TRIAL TRACKER: Jon Husted Surpasses 300 Mentions in FirstEnergy Criminal Corruption Trial

Husted has been at the center of the ongoing criminal trial regarding the largest bribery scandal in Ohio history

Ohio families paying $663 more a year on electric bills thanks to Husted

COLUMBUS, OHIO — Congratulations to FirstEnergy’s “golden boy” Jon Husted for hitting an impressive milestone yesterday — his 300th mention in the ongoing FirstEnergy criminal corruption trial.

Husted’s newest accomplishment comes after he was forced to take the stand to answer for his role in the largest public corruption scandal in Ohio history. Husted’s testimony made clear he was at the center of the massive bribery scheme that delivered a billion dollar bailout to utilities and contributed to electricity costs for Ohioans increasing by $663 a year.

Ohio Democratic Party Senior Communications Advisor Tony Wen released the following statement:

“Not every Senator can say they’ve been mentioned 300 times in the trial over the largest bribery scandal in Ohio history — but Jon Husted continues to break new ground. Unfortunately for Ohioans, Husted’s embarrassing milestone is another reminder that he helped set the entire FirstEnergy bribery scheme in motion, and his corruption is costing families hundreds of dollars more each year.” 

Read more about Jon Husted’s role in Ohio’s largest corruption scandal:

  • New evidence revealed nine calls between Jon Husted and Mike Dowling in the months preceding a $4.3 million bribe to former Utilities Commission Chair Sam Randazzo. 
  • New reporting revealed Jon Husted held secret meetings with indicted FirstEnergy executives, including with the “mastermind of Ohio’s largest public corruption scheme two days before scandal-ridden bribery legislation was introduced.”
  • Neil Clark, a FirstEnergy lobbyist and co-defendant with former House Speaker Larry Householder, referred to Husted as FirstEnergy’s “golden boy.”
  • Text messages between Husted and FirstEnergy Executives reveal that the trio were in constant communication “before, during and after his campaign.”
  • A dinner between Jon Husted, Mike DeWine, and the indicted FirstEnergy executives at the Athletic Club of Columbus has become a focal point of the current criminal trial.
  • Public records show that FirstEnergy funneled $1 million in dark money to a dark money group backing Husted in 2017 — part of the same corrupt scheme that led to federal and state indictments.

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Ohioans Call Out Jon Husted As He Is Forced to Testify at FirstEnergy Criminal Corruption Trial

Husted has been mentioned more than 250 times in the ongoing criminal trial regarding the largest bribery scandal in Ohio history

Ohio families are paying $663 more a year on electric bills thanks to Husted

AKRON, OHIO — In case you missed it, Ohioans gathered outside the Summit County Common Pleas Courthouse to call out FirstEnergy “golden boy” Jon Husted as he was forced to take the stand to answer for his key role in the largest public corruption scandal in Ohio history. 

Husted’s testimony made clear he was at the center of the massive bribery scheme that delivered a billion dollar bailout to utilities and contributed to energy rates for Ohioans increasing by $663 a year. 

Husted has already been mentioned more than 250 times during the corruption trial, with new developments continuing to surface — including phone calls, text messages, and previously unreported secret meetings between Husted and the indicted FirstEnergy executives.

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HUSTED TRIAL TRACKER: Jon Husted Forced to Answer for Central Role in Ohio’s Largest Corruption Scandal

Husted has been mentioned more than 200 times in the ongoing criminal trial regarding the largest bribery scandal in Ohio history

Husted led the charge for massive utility bailout scheme

Ohio families paying $663 more a year on electric bills thanks to Husted

COLUMBUS, OHIO — Today, FirstEnergy “golden boy” Jon Husted was forced to take the stand to answer for his role in the largest public corruption scandal in Ohio history. Husted’s testimony made clear he was at the center of the massive bribery scheme that delivered a billion dollar bailout to utilities and contributed to electricity costs for Ohioans increasing by $663 a year.

Here are the biggest takeaways from Jon Husted’s testimony on his central role in Ohio’s largest corruption scandal:

  • Husted played a key role in passing the billion dollar FirstEnergy bailout, which has contributed to Ohioans paying $663 a year more in energy costs.
  • New emails between Husted and Sam Randazzo, the disgraced former Public Utilities Commission chair, show the two had an even deeper relationship than previously reported. 
  • Husted tried to downplay his extensive relationship with Chuck Jones and Mike Dowling, the former FirstEnergy executives who helped mastermind the corrupt bailout scheme – despite Chuck Jones calling Husted a “good friend of FirstEnergy” and phone records showing an established line of communication between Husted and the defendants. 

Ohio Democratic Party Senior Communications Advisor Tony Wen released the following statement:

“Jon Husted’s testimony today confirmed what Ohioans already knew: he was at the center of the largest bribery scandal in Ohio history and it’s costing families hundreds of dollars more a year. Husted didn’t just sell Ohioans out to a big utility company — he set the entire bribery scheme in motion, and voters will hold him accountable in November.” 

Read more about Jon Husted’s role in Ohio’s largest corruption scandal:

  • New evidence revealed nine calls between Jon Husted and Mike Dowling in the months preceding a $4.3 million bribe to former Utilities Commission Chair Sam Randazzo. 
  • New reporting revealed Jon Husted held secret meetings with indicted FirstEnergy executives, including with the “mastermind of Ohio’s largest public corruption scheme two days before scandal-ridden bribery legislation was introduced.”
  • Neil Clark, a FirstEnergy lobbyist and co-defendant with former House Speaker Larry Householder, referred to Husted as FirstEnergy’s “golden boy.”
  • Text messages between Husted and FirstEnergy Executives reveal that the trio were in constant communication “before, during and after his campaign.”
  • A dinner between Jon Husted, Mike DeWine, and the indicted FirstEnergy executives at the Athletic Club of Columbus has become a focal point of the current criminal trial.
  • Public records show that FirstEnergy funneled $1 million in dark money to a dark money group backing Husted in 2017 — part of the same corrupt scheme that led to federal and state indictments.

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HUSTED TRIAL TRACKER: Five Questions Jon Husted Must Answer As He Is Forced to Testify at FirstEnergy Criminal Corruption Trial

Husted was at the center of the largest bribery scandal in Ohio history

Ohio families are paying $663 more a year on electric bills thanks to Husted

COLUMBUS, OHIO — Today, FirstEnergy “golden boy” Jon Husted will testify in the largest public corruption case in Ohio history. Husted was at the center of the largest bribery scheme in Ohio history, which delivered a billion dollar bailout to utilities and contributed to energy rates for Ohioans increasing by $663 a year.

Husted’s testimony comes as he has already been mentioned more than 100 times during the corruption trial, with new developments continuing to surface — including phone calls, text messages, and previously unreported secret meetings between Husted and the indicted FirstEnergy executives.

Husted will testify virtually, blaming the war in Iran for keeping him in DC — but this didn’t stop him from coming back to Ohio for a fundraiser last weekend, where tickets cost as much as $1,000.

Ohio Democratic Party Senior Communications Advisor Tony Wen released the following statement:

“Jon Husted was at the center of the largest bribery scandal in Ohio history and it’s costing Ohioans hundreds of dollars more a year. Not only did Husted sell Ohioans out to a big energy company, he set the bribery scheme in motion — Husted owes the public answers on how deep his involvement goes.”

Five questions Jon Husted must answer as he takes the stand in Ohio’s largest corruption scandal:

  1. What do you have to say to Ohioans who are paying $663 more per year for electricity because you led the passage of a billion dollar bailout for utilities?
  1. You have argued that passing HB 6 was critical to “saving the nuclear power plants.” Given everything we now know about the bribery and corruption tied to that law, do you regret your role in backing it?
  1. Chuck Jones and Michael Dowling have painted Sam Randazzo, who you pushed as chair of the Public Utilities Commission, as the sole mastermind of the bribery scheme. Do you think Jones and Dowling are innocent? Are you ready to defend them?
  1. Jones and Dowling have said it was you who pushed for Randazzo for Chair of the Public Utilities Commission. Is this accurate?
  1. Your calendar shows you met with Sam Randazzo days before HB 6 was introduced in the state legislature. What was the nature of your meeting?

Read more about Jon Husted’s role in Ohio’s largest corruption scandal:

  • New evidence revealed nine calls between Jon Husted and Mike Dowling in the months preceding a $4.3 million bribe to former Utilities Commission Chair Sam Randazzo. 
  • New reporting revealed Jon Husted held secret meetings with indicted FirstEnergy executives, including with the “mastermind of Ohio’s largest public corruption scheme two days before scandal-ridden bribery legislation was introduced.”
  • Neil Clark, a FirstEnergy lobbyist and co-defendant with former House Speaker Larry Householder, referred to Husted as FirstEnergy’s “golden boy.”
  • Text messages between Husted and FirstEnergy Executives reveal that the trio were in constant communication “before, during and after his campaign.”
  • Just weeks after Husted and DeWine were elected in 2018, they had dinner with Jones and Dowling at the Athletic Club of Columbus.
  • Public records show that FirstEnergy funneled $1 million in dark money to a dark money group backing Husted in 2017 — part of the same corrupt scheme that led to federal and state indictments.

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