A Summit County jury on Tuesday failed to reach a verdict in the corruption trial of former FirstEnergy executives Chuck Jones and Michael Dowling, prolonging one of Ohio’s biggest public corruption cases. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said the state will retry the case, calling the outcome a setback but not the end of the pursuit of justice. Prosecutors alleged the executives helped arrange a $4.3 million payment to former Public Utilities Commission of Ohio Chairman Sam Randazzo as part of the wider House Bill 6 bribery scandal. Ohio Manufacturers’ Association President Ryan Augsburger said the association welcomes Yost’s decision to retry the case.

“We are encouraged Attorney General Dave Yost has made clear this case will be retried,” Augsburger said. “A case of this magnitude cannot simply be left unresolved. The public deserves answers.” 3/31/2026