Who is Matt Borges? Former Republican chairman involved in $60 million corruption scandal

Former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder and lobbyist Matt Borges, who formerly held the office of Ohio Republican Party chairman, were both convicted guilty of one racketeering charge each in March after a six-week trial.

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Who is Matt Borges?

American politician Matthew “Matt” Borges has a successful career and was formerly the chairman of the Ohio Republican Party. The Ohio State University Department of Political Science awarded him the esteemed “Distinguished Alumni Award” in 2019 in honor of his accomplishments.

Borges also participated actively in the Political Science Department Advisory Board at OSU. His involvement in Ohio state and municipal political elections dominated his early professional life. Later, he played a significant part in Joe Deters’ victorious campaigns for Ohio Treasurer of State in 1998 and 2002. He had previously worked on a number of municipal races.

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Through his involvement in several presidential elections and his time spent working as the White House’s advance representative between 2001 and 2008, Borges has gathered great experience. He made an important contribution to John McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign. Borges was in charge of Dave Yost’s successful statewide campaign in 2010, and Yost is currently Ohio’s attorney general. In 2011, he also served as the Kasich-Taylor Inaugural Committee’s Executive Director.

Recently, the jury determined during the trial that Larry Householder had planned and Matt Borges had taken part in a $60 million bribery plot. In order to increase Householder’s influence, ensure the election of his associates, and pass legislation that included a $1 billion rescue for two outdated nuclear power facilities owned by a FirstEnergy affiliate, this scheme was secretly funded by Akron-based FirstEnergy Corp.

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On Friday, Borges will receive a sentence for his part in the bribery of a campaign worker. During the referendum campaign to overturn House Bill 6, the bribe was made in exchange for private information.