Derek Merrin Was Repeatedly Called Out For Being Backed By Perpetrators Of The FirstEnergy Scandal

Canary Media Reported That Merrin Was “Among The ‘Team Householder’ Candidates Listed On A Government Exhibit” Who Were Expected To Receive Dark Money Funds From Householder. “Merrin also was among the ’Team Householder’ candidates listed on a government exhibit introduced last year at the criminal trial of former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder. The government claimed Householder directed the use of dark money funds to help candidates whom he expected to support his bid to become speaker and then to pass a bailout for FirstEnergy.” [Canary Media, 10/15/24]

Daily Beast Reported That Merrin Had “Eyebrow-Raising Ties To Former Speaker Householder” And Received Upwards Of $17,000 From Householder’s Dark Money Group. “Merrin also has some eyebrow-raising ties to former Speaker Householder, who is serving 20 years in prison after being convicted in a $60 million bribery case. Before the scandal broke, Merrin had taken upwards of $17,000 between Householder’s dark money Growth & Opportunity PAC and his official committee. After Householder was arrested, Merrin was one of 20 Republicans who voted against expelling the former speaker from the legislature in 2021. (Since then, Merrin has sponsored an ethics reform bill to guard against future corruption schemes).” [Daily Beast via Archive Today, 1/30/24]