Chuck Jones and Michael Dowling

Charles Jones, the former CEO of FirstEnergy, and Michael Dowling, the company’s former top lobbyist, were fired in October 2020 for violating corporate code of conduct. They are central figures in a major Ohio public corruption scandal involving a $60 million bribery scheme to secure the passage of House Bill 6, a $1 billion nuclear plant bailout. In June 2026, a grand jury reindicted both men on numerous felony counts, including bribery, conspiracy, and engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, following an initial trial that ended in a mistrial due to a hung jury. In March 2026, a judge dismissed money laundering charges against them due to insufficient evidence but allowed other counts to proceed. Jones also faces a separate 2024 SEC civil fraud lawsuit alleging he misled investors regarding the company's corrupt payments to former House Speaker Larry Householder and former utility regulator Sam Randazzo. Both men maintain their innocence and have pleaded not guilty.