New Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson told Cleveland.com that state prosecutors are preparing a clearer and stronger case against former FirstEnergy executives Chuck Jones and Mike Dowling, whose first public-corruption trial ended in a mistrial this spring.

The two men now face an expanded 22-count indictment tied to allegations surrounding the House Bill 6 scandal and a $4.3 million payment to former Public Utilities Commission of Ohio Chair Sam Randazzo. Both defendants have denied wrongdoing.

Wilson said he is “very comfortable” with the prosecution team’s strategy and expects the retrial to begin this fall.

“We are still paying the price for a system that rewarded utility influence and failed to protect customers,” said Lindsey Short, managing director of energy and advocacy services for the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association. “Accountability cannot end with House Bill 6. It must include fixing the regulatory rules and incentives that allowed customers to be put last.” 7/20/2026