Ex-Ohio GOP leader Matt Borges sentenced to 5 years in prison

Former Ohio Republican Party Chairman Matt Borges on Friday was sentenced to five years in prison for his role in a sweeping pay-to-play scandal at the Ohio Statehouse.

Once a rising star in the GOP nationally, Borges was immediately taken into custody.

But unlike the ringleader of the scheme, ex-Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder, Borges expressed remorse for his actions, which included bribing a friend for insider information about a ballot initiative to block a $1.3 billion nuclear bailout.

"I'm here today for one reason and one reason only. My behavior, my decisions, my poor judgment," Borges told U.S. District Court Judge Timothy Black in federal court in Cincinnati. "I should have known better."

Borges, 51, of Bexley, was convicted of racketeering conspiracy in March following a seven-week federal trial. Federal prosecutors recommended a five- to eight-year sentence while Borges' attorneys wanted a sentence of a year and a day.

Borges' apology, along with the heartfelt pleas of his wife Kate, might have saved him from additional time in prison. Black said he initially didn't believe that Borges understood the impact of his decisions, calling Borges' behavior after his arrest "immature, middle-school stuff."

"Your statement here today reached me," Black said.

But that didn't offset Borges' actions. He entered into a corrupt scheme with his eyes wide open, Black said.

"Larry Householder was a crook and you knew it. 'An unholy alliance' is what you called it," Black told Borges.

Throughout the trial, federal prosecutors outlined how secretive money flowed from Akron-based utility FirstEnergy and its allies to help elect Householder as speaker of the House, pass a $1.3 billion bailout for two nuclear plants known as House Bill 6 and defend that subsidy against a ballot initiative to block it. Prosecutors say Borges made $366,000 off the scheme.

Householder was sentenced Thursday to the maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

More: Ex-Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder, former Ohio GOP leader Matt Borges found guilty

FirstEnergy officials and others involved in the scheme hoped Borges would influence powerful politicians, such as Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, because of his experience and relationships in Republican politics. Ultimately, neither held up the anti-bailout effort.

Borges also gave $15,000 to political operative Tyler Fehrman for insider intel on the effort to block the $1.3 billion nuclear bailout. Fehrman, who was working to collect signatures, reported Borges to the FBI.

"There is zero doubt in my mind that Matt from the very beginning was offering me a bribe," Fehrman said in an interview.

On Friday, U.S. Assistant Attorney Matt Singer said it was important to send a message to lobbyists, lawyers and consultants who benefited from the corrupt scheme but were never charged - and those who might consider a similar scheme in the future.

Who is Matt Borges?

Borges' sentence ends a lengthy career in Republican politics, A Rhode Island native, Borges moved to Ohio to attend Ohio State University.

Over the years, Borges worked for Gov. George Voinovich and President George H.W. Bush. He ran Joe Deters' state treasurer campaign. Borges pleaded guilty to improper use of a public office in 2004 for giving campaign donors preferential treatment at the treasurer's office. The charge was later expunged.

Borges rebuilt his reputation working for the campaigns of Vice President Dick Cheney, Sen. John McCain, Ohio auditor and later attorney general Dave Yost, U.S. Rep. Bob Gibbs and former Gov. John Kasich. Kasich helped install Borges as leader of the Ohio Republican Party in 2012.

Former President Donald Trump helped oust Borges from that spot in 2017, replacing him with Republican Jane Timken. Shortly before Borges' arrest, he launched an effort to convince Republicans to vote for Democrat Joe Biden over Trump in 2020. Trump's campaign called Borges a sore loser.

His wife, Kate Borges, described Borges as a champion of the underdog who has worked across the aisle on key issues. "He believes in making the world a better place," she said. She said her family has suffered significant losses since his arrest.

The judge commended Kate Borges but noted that he isn't permitted to consider collateral from her husband's conduct.

Borges' attorneys asked Black to allow their client to remain at home either during the appeal or for another month or two. But Black rejected that request, saying: "The court and the community's patience with all that this case has presented has expired."

Following the sentence, two men with the U.S. Marshal's office handcuffed Borges after he removed his wedding ring. They took off his tie and Borges said goodbye to his wife.

What happens next?

Borges plans to appeal his conviction, citing a new ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court that reversed the conviction of a top aide to ex-Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York. Black rejected that plea, but the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals could take a look.

It's not clear whether anyone else will be charged in this case. FirstEnergy admitted it bribed two public officials: Householder and former Public Utilities Commission of Ohio Chairman Sam Randazzo. But Randazzo has never been charged. FirstEnergy fired executives, including then-CEO Chuck Jones, but they have not been accused of a crime.

No sentencing date has been set for two others who pleaded guilty to their roles in the scheme: former FirstEnergy Solutions lobbyist Juan Cespedes and Householder's former political operative Jeff Longstreth. Another lobbyist charged, Neil Clark, died by suicide in March 2021.

U.S. Attorney Ken Parker did not answer questions about the investigation on Friday.

Jessie Balmert and Laura Bischoff are reporters for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ex-Ohio GOP leader Matt Borges faces sentencing in corruption case