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Judge Unseals Key Grand Jury Testimony as FirstEnergy Bribery Trial Faces Dismissal Bid

The court released a central witness’s grand jury transcript to the defense at prosecutors’ request to address memory issues.

Overview

  • Former CEO Chuck Jones and ex-lobbyist Michael Dowling are in their third week of trial in Summit County on 11 counts tied to the House Bill 6 scandal.
  • Prosecutors allege a $4.3 million payment to then-PUCO chair Sam Randazzo was a bribe within a broader $61 million effort to secure favorable legislation and rulings.
  • Immunized witness Ebony Yeboah-Amankwah testified she advised against the payout, said Jones approved it, and described his roughly $18 million stock sale after favorable PUCO decisions.
  • Defense attorneys moved to dismiss the case, accusing prosecutors of failing to disclose notes from three conversations with Yeboah-Amankwah and seeking sanctions or an adverse jury instruction.
  • Judge Susan Baker Ross gave the defense access to Yeboah-Amankwah’s grand jury transcript for limited review at prosecutors’ request, and she has not ruled on the dismissal motion.