Trump's campaign called Borges a sore loser. Shortly before Borges' arrest, he launched an effort to convince Republicans to vote for Democrat Joe Biden over Trump in 2020.
OHIO COLUMBUS DISPATCH OBITUARIES INSTALL
Kasich helped install Borges as leader of the Ohio Republican Party in 2012.įormer President Donald Trump helped oust Borges from that spot in 2017, replacing him with Republican Jane Timken. John McCain, Ohio auditor and later attorney general Dave Yost, U.S.
The charge was later expunged.īorges rebuilt his reputation working for the campaigns of Vice President Dick Cheney, Sen. Borges pleaded guilty to improper use of a public office in 2004 for giving campaign donors preferential treatment at the treasurer's office. He ran Joe Deters' state treasurer campaign. George Voinovich and President George H.W. 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.īorges' sentence ends a lengthy career in Republican politics, A Rhode Island native, Borges moved to Ohio to attend Ohio State University.
"There is zero doubt in my mind that Matt from the very beginning was offering me a bribe," Fehrman said in an interview. Fehrman, who was working to collect signatures, reported Borges to the FBI. Ultimately, neither held up the anti-bailout effort.īorges also gave $15,000 to political operative Tyler Fehrman for insider intel on the effort to block the $1.3 billion nuclear bailout. More: Ex-Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder, former Ohio GOP leader Matt Borges found guiltyįirstEnergy 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. Householder was sentenced Thursday to the maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Prosecutors say Borges made $366,000 off the scheme. 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. 'An unholy alliance' is what you called it," Black told Borges. "Larry Householder was a crook and you knew it. He entered into a corrupt scheme with his eyes wide open, Black said. "Your statement here today reached me," Black said.īut that didn't offset Borges' actions. 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." Federal prosecutors recommended a five- to eight-year sentence while Borges' attorneys wanted a sentence of a year and a day.īorges' apology, along with the heartfelt pleas of his wife Kate, might have saved him from additional time in prison.
"I should have known better."īorges, 51, of Bexley, was convicted of racketeering conspiracy in March following a seven-week federal trial. District Court Judge Timothy Black in federal court in Cincinnati. My behavior, my decisions, my poor judgment," Borges told U.S.
"I'm here today for one reason and one reason only. Once a rising star in the GOP nationally, Borges was immediately taken into custody.īut 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. 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.
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