>> LARRY HOUSEHOLDER TAKES THE STAND IN HIS BRIBERY TRIAL.

[ MUSIC ] >> WELCOME TO COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD.

LARRY HOUSEHOLDER HAS SAID FOR TWO AND HALF YEARS, HE'S BEEN WAITING TO TELL THE STORY.

HE GOT HIS CHANCE.

AND THERE ARE QUESTIONS POKING HOLES IN THAT STORY.

HE RAISED HIS RIGHT HAND AND TESTIFIED IN HIS OWN DEFENSE.

AN UNDERDOG POLITICIAN CONSTITUTE HIS RIGHTS.

THE JAPANESE AND FORTH.

THEY DID NOT TESTIFY.

TAKE THE STAND IN YOUR OWN DEFENSE, DO YOU KNOW WHY HE TOOK THAT LIST?

>> IT DEPENDS ON THE VERDICT.

EVER THE FEDERAL COURT SYSTEM WILL WAIVE THE RULING IN TELEVISION COVERAGE AND EVERYTHING.

IT'S A GOOD THAN THIS ONE.

ALL OF OHIO IS TRANSFIXED BY THIS.

IT WOULD'VE BEEN A LOT OF INTEREST.

NOT JUST VOYEURISTIC.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST IN OHIO HISTORY.

THE MAIN PERPETRATORS TAKEN THE STAND IN HIS OWN DEFENSE.

THE CROSS EXAMINATION.

HIGH DRAMA ON THE BACK OF THE OHIO.

I WASN'T THERE.

WHEN I SAW THE COVERAGE, THEY SEEM TO DO FAIRLY WELL.

THE FEDERAL PROSECUTORS WERE JUST WAITING.

AS HE SAID IN THE INTRO, THEY HAD THE RECEIPTS TO TRIP THEM UP ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS.

>> HE'S A VERY GOOD POLITICIAN.

HE KNOWS HOW TO WORK THE CROWD AND WENT OVER PEOPLE.

THIS WAS A DIFFERENT ATMOSPHERE.

>> THERE IS ALWAYS A GUY WHO WANTS TO WALK IN THE FIRE AND KNOWS HE CAN BECAUSE HE THINKS HE CAN REPEL IT.

THAT'S PART OF THE DECISION.

SEE IT.

THAT IS GOING TO WORK.

THERE WAS A LOT OF - -THE PROSECUTION HAD A LOT OF EVIDENCE.

THE QUESTION IS, WHAT ARE THE ACTUAL JURORS THINK ABOUT THE EVIDENCE?

PROBABLY, BUT THE PUBLIC, THEY HAVE LOW IDEAS ABOUT POLITICIANS TO BEGIN WITH.

BUT YOURS MIGHT SEE SOME OF THE STUFF THAT WAS PRESENTED AS POLITICS AS USUAL.

>> THIS WAS A MAN WHO SHOT A TELEVISION AND TV AD.

THEY WENT TO FIGHT THINKING THEY WERE UNIFYING FORCE INTO POLITICS.

>> ONLY KNOWS WHAT THEY TELL US WHEN WE RETURN PAPER EACH DAY.

THE ONLY THING THAT IS A SLAMDUNK AS LAWYER IS, HE VIOLATED FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE FORMS TO THE ETHICS COMMISSION.

HE'S GUILTY OF THAT, IN MY OPINION.

THE MILLION DOLLAR QUESTION IS, WHAT DID HE DO THAT VIOLATED FEDERAL LAW?

THAT'S UP TO THE JURY.

LOOKS GREAT WITH THEM.

HE COMES OUT LOOKING PRETTY GOOD IN THIS.

>> THIS IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HIGHBROW POLITICS AND QUID PRO QUO AND BRIBERY.

THIS MAY BE THE TIME TO HAVE SIDE CONVERSATIONS, BAD WORDS.

THAT'S THE WAY POLITICS IS.

HE DIDN'T USE THAT DEFENSE.

>> IT.THIS IS WHERE HE WOULD'VE GONE.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, SHE IS A POLITICIAN.

WHAT DO THEY DO?

THEY LUKE RHODES.

THEY GET THE CROWD.

IN THIS CASE, AND BACKFIRED , THE FROM WHAT WE READ FROM THE COVERAGE WAS A REAL STICKING POINT.

IT'S CAN BE HARD TO GET OUT OF THAT.

I'D BE CURIOUS TO SEE NEXT WEEK IN TERMS OF COVERT ARGUMENTS.

AND HOW THEY TIE IT ALL TOGETHER.

THE POLITICAL ARGUMENT, I DON'T KNOW IF IT LANDED THE WAY THEY THOUGHT IT WOULD.

>> SOMETIMES EASY CASES, AND THE JURY SEES IT DIFFERENTLY THAN WHAT WE DO.

ONE OF THE BIG THINGS IS $500,000 LOAN PAYMENT THAT CAME FROM FIRST ENERGY FUTURE ENERGY.

>> I WAS GOING TO PAY IT BACK.

THE GUY STILL PLANNING ON PAYING IT BACK.

THERE IS NO DOCUMENTATION HAVE SEEN OR HEARD OF.

CERTAINLY, THEY TESTIFIED ON THE OTHER SIDE THAT IT WASN'T.

SHE WASN'T GETTING THE MONEY BACK.

THEY GAVE HIM THE MONEY TO FIX UP HIS MOTHER'S HOME DAMAGED BY THE HURRICANE IN FLORIDA.

HE STILL HAVEN'T PAID THAT BACK FROM THE $670,000 SALE .

>> ANY CHANCE FOR SPLIT VERDICT WHERE WHEN A MAN GETS IT AND THE OTHER PERSON GETS NOTHING?

>> THE JERK SAY, ASK FOR THIS, AND WHY FOR THAT.

THE PROSECUTION DID NOT MEET THE STANDARDS TO CONVICT.

IF THE PROSECUTION MEETS THE STANDARD, THEY WILL BOTH BE THERE'S A LOT OF ROOM FOR THE JURY THE SPLIT.

OR THE UNIFIED.

>> DO YOU SEE ANY CHANGES COMING OUT?

TIGHTER SCRUTINY OR MORE OVERSIGHT?

ANYTHING COMING OUT OF THE TRIAL?

>> THE AVERAGE VOTER DOESN'T UNDERSTAND ALL THE INS AND OUTS.

MOST CANDIDATES CANS.

THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE THEM UNDERSTANDING WHAT GOES INTO IT.

WHAT WE GOT OURSELVES INTO A SITUATION IS, IS THIS HOW POLITICS WORKS?

IS THIS THE SAUSAGE MAKING PROCESS?

THIS IS WHY WE DON'T LIKE POLITICIANS BECAUSE THEY ARE ALL CORRUPT.

IT IS WONKY.

THIS IS VERY WONKY.

IT'S CAN REQUIRE A LOT OF ARTFUL STORYTELLING ON BOTH COUNTS FROM THE PROSECUTOR.

>> UNTIL LOBBYISTS ARE GOING TO JAIL, IT'S CAN BE BUSINESS AS USUAL.

LIFT UP A LOBBYIST IN JAIL AS WELL.

WE HAVE TO LOBBYIST IN JAIL AS WELL.

>> THERE'S PRETTY AGGRESSIVE LEGISLATION ABOUT THE LOBBYIST REPORTING.

THE TERSELY LEAKED LAWS AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.

THIS WILL PUT THE REAL TEETH IN IT.

WHATEVER THE VERDICT IS, NOTHING WILL OCCUR TO THAT BILL.

IN BLACK-AND- WHITE, THERE IS LEGISLATION THERE.

OHIO IS A NATIONAL LEADER.

SOMETHING GOOD, IMAGINE THAT.

>> THE PROPOSED PROSTITUTION CLEARED ITS FIRST HURDLE.

IT DID SO WITH RELATIVE EASE.

THEY APPROVED THE LANGUAGE IN THE SUMMARY THIS WEEK.

THIS WILL EXAMINE THE AMENDMENT AND SINGLE ISSUE.

ABORTION-RIGHTS SUPPORTERS WILL CONNECT AND COLLECT THE SIGNATURES THEY NEED FOR THE BALLOT.

>> THEY WERE SHOCKED.

THE ONES I TALKED TO SAID THEY WERE SHOCKED ON THE FIRST TRY THAT THIS HAPPENED.

THEY WERE PLEASED IT HAPPENED AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO FIGHT THIS HURDLE.

>> HE SEE THE AMENDMENTS COME AND GO.

IT'S GOING TO BE CLEAR, I THOUGHT THE LANGUAGE IS PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD.

>> IT'S WORTH UNDERSCORING WHAT YOU SAID.

IT'S A MERE LEGAL DUTY ON THE LANGUAGE.

DOES IT ACCURATELY DESCRIBE THE ISSUE?

IT'S A PURELY LEGAL QUESTION.

SOME SAY THAT WAS ABUSED IN THE PAST.

IT IS CLEAR IN TERMS OF WHAT THE AMENDMENT DOES.

DESCRIBING IT.

>> THIS LITTLE BIT OF DIFFERENCES ON THAT.

>> SHOULD HAVE TAKEN IT?

>> I APPLIED ATTORNEY GENERAL - -I APPLAUD THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR TAKEN THE DUTY.

COMPLETE DERELICTION OF DUTY TO THE COUNTY AND HE'S WRONG FOR THAT.

WE APPLAUD HIM FOR NOW.

HE HAD A SPECIFIC DUTY TO DO AND BASED ON THE INFORMATION, HE APPROVED IT.

>> THIS SEEMS LIKE A SINGLE ISSUE TO ME.

>> WE SAW TWO DIFFERENT COALITIONS WORKING TOGETHER AND COMING TOGETHER TO PUT FORTH LANGUAGE AND THEY GOT IT DONE.

ONE FULL SWING.

IT SPEAKS TO THE VOLUME OF THE WORK ADVOCATE AND ACTIVIST ARE DOING ON THE GROUND.

WE WILL SEE THE FRUIT OF THE LABOR WHEN THEY GET THE SIGNATURES.

I'M CERTAIN THEY WILL GET THEM.

THE VOTES WILL COME OUT ON THE SIDE BECAUSE ALL PUBLIC OPINION POLLS CONTINUE TO SHOW WHERE THEY MOSTLY ARE.

WHICH IS STAY OUT BETWEEN A WOMAN AND HER DOCTOR WHEN SHE GETS PREGNANT.

>> THEY MAY INCREASE RESTRICTIONS ON ABORTION?

>> WE SAID PUBLICLY WE DON'T NEED TO GO TO BALLARD ON OUR OWN CONSTITUTION.

IF THE LEGISLATURE WANTS TO PUT A RESOLUTION ON THE BALLOT, IT IS PRO- LIFE AND SO BE IT.

WE WILL ADVOCATE TO HAVE THE PAST.

IT'S UP TO THEM.

>> IT'S HARD TO GET SIGNATURES.

THEY HAVE UNTIL JULY TO DO IT.

IS THERE MONEY BEHIND THIS CAMPAIGN?

>> NO QUESTION.

AMENDMENT SUPPORTERS HIRED OUT-OF-STATE FIRMS AND HAVE BEEN ALREADY SUCCESSFUL IN OTHER STATES.

THERE IS MONEY FLOWING AND.

WE WILL NOT KNOW SPECIFICALLY WHERE A LOT OF THE MONEY COMES FROM AND WHO THE DONORS WILL BE.

THERE IS A LOT OF GREAT, OUT-OF- STATE PRESENCE ON BOTH SIDES.

THEY NEEDED 1000 VALID SIGNATURES TO GET IT TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

THEY GOT 7000 IN LESS THAN TWO DAYS.

I'VE BEEN TOLD BY THE FOLKS THEY WILL GO FOR $900,000.

YOU WANT THE MARGIN OF ERROR.

THE MINIMUM IS OVER 400,000.

WANT THIS HUGE CUSHION.

YOU'LL SEE THE " PRO-CHOICE " SUPPORTERS.

IN A LOT OF COUNTY AFFAIRS AND PUBLIC EVENTS IN THE COMING MONTHS.

>> WHAT ARE THE OTHER CHALLENGES?

>> IF YOU SEE WHAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SAID IN THE LETTER THAT REGARDLESS, THIS WILL TAKE IT TO A DIFFERENT PLACE.

THE ARGUMENT ABOUT ABORTION TO A DIFFERENT PLACE.

THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THE POWERS THAT BE THEY WILL UPHOLD IN THE WAY IT OUGHT TO BE DESIGNED.

A LOT OF POLITICIANS ARE LOOKING AT REDISTRICTING.

IT WAS DESIGNED WHEN IT WAS PUT ON THE BALLOT.

THE SUPREME COURT SPOKE ON THAT.

LOOK AT HOW IT IS VIEWED BY POLITICIANS.

YOU COULD VERY WELL END UP WITH THIS PASSING AND STILL NOT GET WHAT THE PEOPLE BRING TO THE INSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT WANT.

>> LET'S GO TO A NEXT TOPIC.

THE DEMOCRATIC SENATOR TEAMED UP WITH THE TWO STRONG TRUMP SUPPORTERS AND OTHERS TO DEMAND SAFER RAIL LINES.

A MONTH AFTERWARDS, THE TOXIC CHEMICAL CONTAMINATION, THE GROUP OF SENATORS COSPONSORED A BILL THAT WOULD TIGHTEN REGULATIONS.

TO MAKE RAILCARS - -MAKE US SAFER AND INFORM LOCAL AUTHORITIES OF DANGEROUS CHEMICALS COMING DOWN THE TRUCK.

THE SENATE COMMITTEE HELD A HEARING ON THE DISASTER THIS WEEK.

MANY EXECUTIVES GOT AN ERROR FOR OF EAST HOSTING RESIDENTS --THEY GOT AN EAR FULL FROM THAT USED PALESTINIAN RESIDENCE.

>> WE'RE BACK TO I THINK IT'S GREAT WHENEVER POLITICIANS WORK TOGETHER REGARDLESS OF THEIR PARTY.

THE REALITY IS, THIS IS SOMETHING DEMOCRATS HAVE FOUGHT FOR FOR SAFETY.

UPGRADED BRAKING SYSTEMS AND RAILWAYS.

THESE POSTINGS ARE PRESENTED BY A LOT OF REPUBLICANS.

REPUBLICANS AROUND THE COUNTRY ARE SAYING THIS COULD HAPPEN IN MY DISTRICT AND TOWN.

THESE COULD BE MY KIDS.

THIS LOOKS LIKE MY COMMUNITY.

STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE AND WANTING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

A BUDDY TRUST A POLITICIAN SAYING IT'S OKAY TO DRINK THE WATER AND BREATHE THE AIR.

WHAT HAPPENS I WOULD WATER THEN?

THAT'S WHAT WE FIX.

THIS DIDN'T JUST COME FROM HIS PALACE TEAM.

IT CAME FROM ILLINOIS.

THIS WOULD HIT A POPULATION CENTER.

WE COULD'VE HAD A MASSIVE LOSS OF LIFE.

>> DO YOU THINK THIS REGULATION ACTUALLY WILL HAPPEN IN CONGRESS?

>> THAT'S A BIG QUESTION.

I LOOKED AT THE CAMPAIGN FINANCE RECORDS AND LOBBYING RECORDS I'VE SEEN BIGGER CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS.

YOU'RE NOT A STATE COMPANY IN BOTH SENSES.

WE HAVE FULL-TIME LOBBYISTS THAT FENDED OFF A LOT OF STATE REGULATION.

THE FEDERAL LEVEL , IT'S 1000 TIMES MORE .

THAT'S HOW THE GAME PLAYS.

HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS.

LOBBYISTS EXPENDITURES , CHECKS AND CHECKS WRITTEN TO THE LOBBYISTS.

THIS HASN'T GOTTEN ATTENTION LIKE ANYTHING ANY OF US HAVE EVER SEEN.

DONE.

THIS MAY BE WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE.

LET'S DO IT.

>> POLITICS MEANS GOOD POLICY.

HE WILL BE UP FOR RE-ELECTION IN A YEAR, AND HE NEEDS QUOTES FOR RURAL OHIO.

I'M GUESSING, THIS WILL SHOW UP IN A CAMPAIGN AD IN 2024.

SHE IS WORKING WITH JOSH HAWLEY.

>> LET US NOT FORGET, THEY WORKED WITH REPUBLICANS A LOT.

I DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO GET THE IDEA HE'S GOING TO EASE PALESTINIAN DOING WHAT HE'S DOING BECAUSE OF POLITICS.

HE ALWAYS ADVOCATED FOR WHAT HE IS SAYING RIGHT NOW.

IT IS ENCOURAGING TO SEE TWO SIDES WORKING TOGETHER.

JD VANCE AND SHARON BROWN SPONSORING A JOINT PIECE OF BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION.

THAT IS WHAT RESTORES FAITH IN GOVERNMENT FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOST IT.

>> IT'S NICE TO SEE A TINY LITTLE TOWN , IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, GETTING ALL OF THIS ATTENTION.

NOT GETTING PASSED OVER.

AND NOT JUST MOVING ONTO THE NEXT TOPIC.

NEXT TOPIC.

A LOT OF OHIO BETS ON SPORTS, $1.1 BILLION COME ON SPORTS CONTENTS.

A THIRD ARE FREE BETS, PROMOTIONAL BETS AND BONUS BITS WE SEE ON TV.

THAT MEANS OHIO HAS BETS $800 MILLION OF REAL MONEY IN ONE MONTH.

STATE GOT $21 MILLION IN CASH REVENUE.

IS THAT ENOUGH?

SWEETHEART DEAL FROM DRAFTKINGS AND OTHERS.

I ENCOURAGE DEMOCRATS, REPUBLICANS AND OTHERS TO SIT DOWN AND SAY NO MORE.

WE WILL TAKE A LOT MORE MONEY FROM THESE GUYS THAN WHAT WAS APPROVED EARLIER.

OHIO IS NUMBER TWO IN THE NATION ON SPORTS BETTING.

THE ONLY STATE THAT BETS MORE IS NEW YORK, TWO TIMES THE SIZE.

11 MILLION PEOPLE TOTAL, THAT'S THE SIZE OF YOUR COLON.

THE SIZE OF NEW YORK ALONE.

I'M TELLING YOU RIGHT NOW, IT'S IN OUR HIGH SCHOOLS.

MY DAUGHTER ISN'T DOING, WE DON'T GAMBLE OR HAVE ANY APPS ON THE PHONE.

IT'S HAPPENING IN OUR HIGH SCHOOLS.

WE HAVE TO FIX IT, AND IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

>> OHIO IS BETTING ANYWAY, THIS WILL JUST LEGALIZE IT.

DO YOU THINK THEY WOULD ABUSE THAT MUCH MONEY BEFORE LEGAL BETTING WOULD COME HERE?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

REMEMBER, THESE ARE JANUARY NUMBERS.

THINK ABOUT ALL THE HIGH-PROFILE THINGS --YES.

OHIO'S TEAMS, THE SUPER BOWL , WHAT THEY WERE INVOLVED IN THIS RUNDOWN.

SO, YOU HAVE A LOT OF BETS COMING IN IN JANUARY , AND THE COLLEGE PRO.

A LOT OF THINGS HAPPENING IN JANUARY THAT WERE NOT HAPPENING IN FEBRUARY.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING THE FEBRUARY NUMBERS COMING OUT.

THAT IS TRADITIONALLY A PLACE WHERE THEY ARE USUALLY BETTING.

>> THE SUPER BOWL WAS FEBRUARY THIS YEAR.

THE GAME WAS, BUT THE BEDDING STARTED IN JANUARY.

>> OHIO DIDN'T DO IT AND THEY WOULD BE LEAVING THIS MONEY.

IT'S SOMETHING THEY HAVE TO ACCEPT AND REGULATE.

>> IT IS CERTAINLY POPULAR AMONGST A CERTAIN DEMOGRAPHIC OF HOWEVER, WE ARE SEEING DETRIMENTAL EFFECTS FROM BETTING .

A LOT OF THE COLLEGE ATHLETES COMPLAIN ABOUT DEATH THREATS.

THAT THEY RECEIVE FROM PEOPLE , NOT JUST IN-STATE BUT OUT-OF-STATE.

I BET MONEY ON YOU AND YOU MESSED UP THAT PLAY.

WHAT ARE THE LONG- TERM IMPLICATIONS OF THIS ON SOCIETY?

WE HAVE A VERY HIGH TEEN SUICIDE RATE.

WHAT ARE LONG- TERM IMPACTS ON THE ATHLETES?

I SAW A LOT OF KEVIN HART COMMERCIALS ADVERTISING SPORTS BETTING THROUGH THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS.

WE WILL SEE MORE OF IT.

I THINK WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT IS TO COME WITH SPORTS BETTING.

>> THE TOTAL FINDS FOR THE LEGAL ADVERTISING DONE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT $1 MILLION.

THAT'S NOT A LOTS WHEN WE HAVE $300 MILLION IN REVENUE.

THESE FINES NEED TO BE HIGHER.

>> I TALKED TO THE OTHERS ABOUT THAT.

BUSINESS.

THEY PRETTY MUCH WILLINGLY TAKE THE SPINES.

THEY HAVEN'T REALLY TALKED ABOUT IT A WHOLE LOT.

MIKE MENTIONED THE GREATER TEXAS THE GOVERNOR PROPOSED.

THE GREATER TEXAS - -KIDS HAVING THIS ON THEIR PHONES, PEOPLE GAMBLING BY FAR.

>> AS WE TALK ABOUT SPORTS BETTING AND GETTING TO A CHANGE IN WEATHER THE BUDDING - - AND WHETHER THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION WILL PUT A JUNCTION ON TICKETS.

AND PEOPLE WHO PURCHASE BEYONCE TICKETS, THEY PAY EXTRA FEES THAT ARE QUITE RIDICULOUS.

IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT WILL >> THEY CAME UP WITH A PROPOSAL AND I READ IT WITH THE PUBLIC RECORD.

>> FOR THE FIRST TEST OF 1957, WE'RE GETTING ANY - -.

WE HAD 25 ASTRONAUTS.

JOHN GLENN AND NEIL ARMSTRONG WILL BE PROMINENT ON THAT.

THE COMMISSION WILL GO UP IN 2024.

>> WE HEARD THE TERM CASKET CARRIER.

THE TERM IS REFERRED TO THE BEST FRIEND.

I WANT TO PUT THAT TO REST.

I HOPE MY BEST FRIEND DOES NOT USE THIS TERM, AND I DON'T THINK THAT THE TERM WE WANT TO ADOPT, DO WE?

>> OHIOANS NEVER GOT TO SEE THE TESTIMONY BECAUSE MODERN COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY IS NOT ALLOWED IN FEDERAL COURT.

WE HAD TO RELY ON OTHER SOURCES.

THIS IS DONE BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS.

THAT IS LARRY HOUSEHOLDER ON THE RIGHT.

THAT'S THIS IS A TERRIFIC --.

MAYBE THEY COULD ALLOW TV CAMERAS IN FEDERAL COURT.

THAT IS ALL ON THE RECORD FOR THIS WEEK.

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FROM OUR CREW , PLEASE HAVE A GOOD WEEK.

>> [ EVENT CONCLUDED ]