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Tag: U.S. Attorney

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    by  Tyler Buchanan and Ohio Capital Journal

    David DeVillers, the U.S. Attorney whose office has led the prosecution of former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder, will soon be replaced, Sen. Sherrod Brown confirmed on Thursday.

    DeVillers was appointed to the position by President Donald Trump and confirmed by a Republican-led U.S. Senate in 2019. Brown told reporters that both U.S. Attorney positions in Ohio would be replaced with Democrats regaining control of the White House and U.S. Senate.

    The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio already resigned earlier this month. DeVillers will be staying on until a successor is appointed and confirmed, according to Brown’s office. 

    While it is common for presidents to replace federal attorneys upon taking office, some had called for the Biden administration to keep DeVillers in his post. 

    “Every president is entitled to, with Senate approval, his own team of federal prosecutors,” wrote Mark Weaver, a former deputy attorney general of Ohio, in a Columbus Dispatch guest column last month. “However, as Ohioans know, DeVillers is leading an aggressive and much-needed effort to stem the tide of pernicious public corruption that shatters faith in government.”

    Brown has issued a call for applicants to the U.S. Attorney position, with the web page stating he “will be working to recommend candidates to the Biden Administration.”

    DeVillers became the face of the Householder prosecution when he appeared at a press conference to announce racketeering charges against the speaker and four of his political operatives. The five were arrested July 21 as part of an alleged $61 million bribery scheme to get a $1.3 billion nuclear bailout bill enacted in 2019, which DeVillers described as being “likely the largest bribery and money-laundering scheme ever in the state of Ohio.”

    Two of those charged have since pleaded guilty, while the others (including Householder) have pleaded not guilty and await trial. 

    More recently, DeVillers pledged justice would be served against anyone from the Southern District of Ohio who committed crimes during the attempted U.S. Capitol insurrection:

  • Sen. Sherrod Brown requests investigation of Discovery Tours after Ohio student tours were cancelled

    Sen. Sherrod Brown requests investigation of Discovery Tours after Ohio student tours were cancelled

    Senator Says if Any Federal Laws were Broken, There Must Be Consequences

    Washington D.C. – Today,U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) wrote to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio Justin Herdman requesting investigations into Discovery Tours, a now allegedly bankrupt business that provided long-distance, out-of-state field trips for Ohio students. Brown says FTC and DOJ should determine whether Discovery Tours broke any laws and ensure there are proper consequences for the company cheating hardworking parents out of their money.

    Discovery Toursrecently cancelled trips for several Ohio schools after students and families had already paid for their trips. The company did not issue any refunds and has not accounted for the money collected from hardworking Ohio students and families.       

    “Beyond the disturbing reality that hundreds of students will likely miss long-awaited school trips, is the fact that a company allegedly received hundreds of thousands of dollars – and possibly millions – from Ohio families for services that the company will not provide.  And the company has failed to provide any information as to when or if the money it received will be returned to those hardworking men and women.  This is unacceptable and the affected school districts, parents, and students deserve answers as to what happened to their money,”wrote Brown.

    In the letter, Brown calls for an investigation into Discovery Tours’ actions as well as payments it received for trips that it cancelled. The Ohio Attorney General’s office, as well as two county prosecutor offices, are also investigating Discovery Tours. 

    A copy of Brown’s letter to the FTC can be found here and the letter to U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman can be found here.

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