If Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost is right in an allegation against former state House of Representatives Speaker Larry Householder, the latter may be trying for a record in thumbing his nose at the rules.
Householder, a Perry County Republican, was arrested along with a few cronies earlier this year. Federal officials say they were involved in a $60 million bribery scheme.
Householder, ousted from his leadership post, remains on the ballot in a bid for re-election as a state representative.
Yost says Householder used more than $900,000 donated to his political campaign to pay attorneys defending him in the bribery case. Such use of political donations is illegal.
A formal complaint has been filed against Householder, Yost said, adding, "It's important to do this, to send a message to every other politician (of) what the rules are and the fact they need to be observed."
Such a message does need to be sent to unscrupulous politicians. Ohioans need to believe that no one is above the law.