FILE - Ohio Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted speaks during a news conference on Friday Jan. 21, 2022 in Newark, Ohio. The Akron-based energy company at the center of a $60 million bribery scheme in Ohio gave a secret $1 million contribution to a dark money group backing Husted in his 2018 bid for governor, cleveland.com/The Plain Dealer reported Wednesday, April 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Paul Vernon, File)

FirstEnergy Corporation, an electric utility company at the center of a major bribery scandal, made a secret $1 million contribution in 2017 to a nonprofit in support of now-Lt. Gov. Jon Husted’s (R) gubernatorial campaign.

A report from Cleveland.com’s Jake Zuckerman says that the payment was made in 2017 to Freedom Frontier, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit supporting Husted while he secretary of state and running for governor.

At the same time, FirstEnergy was in the early stages of a $60 million bribery scandal to secure energy subsidies from numerous top Ohio Republicans to keep its nuclear power plants running. It is the largest corruption scandal in the state’s history, and its fallout led to former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder being sentenced to 20 years in prison (with possibly more time incoming) and former Ohio Republican Party Chairman Matt Borges being sentenced to five years in prison.

A spokesperson for Husted denied that he received the payment.

“The Husted campaign never received this donation and is not affiliated with any of these groups.”

In November 2017, Husted dropped out of the gubernatorial race and became now-Gov. Mike DeWine’s (R) running mate. Husted is expected to run for governor again in 2026, when DeWine reaches the end of his two-term limit.