Introducing the Patriots Project

The Rooster needs your help parsing through the federal government's case against Larry Householder.

On Sept. 23rd, 2019, then-Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder, superlobbyist Neil Clark, State Rep. Jay Edwards (R-Nelsonville), and two undercover FBI agents disguised as real estate developers walked into the Aubergine in Grandview.

We know exactly what they discussed that night because as you might imagine, the FBI agents recorded the conversation as part of their investigation into the largest bribery scheme in state history (that we know about).

Laura Bischoff of dispatch.com broke the story in May 2019 and included tidbits about Householder, then at the height of his powers, boasting about outliving the print media and threatening to shit on the future grave of longtime political rival JoAnne Davidson.

That article was only a glimpse into that conversation, which included politicians showing us how they speak away from the public eye.

Here, for example, is Clark, Edwards and Householder discussing current House Majority Floor Leader Bill Seitz (R-Cincinnati) and how he would travel if campaign finance limits suddenly disappeared:

Can’t say I would blame Seitz for not being able to turn down a free first-class flight to Dubai with three whores, though I would be quick to remind him that they’re called sex workers now.

It also includes moments of humanity, in which Householder springs for another complimentary bread roll:

Maybe you’re like me in that you read these conversations and suddenly get interested in looking through the case that sent Householder to prison for 20 years. Like me, you probably didn’t have time to travel to Cincinnati and see the show for yourself.

Well, today, The Rooster is releasing one of the best-kept secrets in Ohio politics. A website established by a well-connected political player who purchased the transcripts and government exhibits and put them on an easy-to-use website:

www.SLHtrial.com

www.SLHtrial.com

There are tidbits in there that have been reported elsewhere, but the motherload has never been granted to the public—until now.

As my long-time readers know, I don’t need any help in looking more insane than I am. And while I have perused this document dump and selected some threads to write about in the coming weeks, I am looking to enlist those that are politically poisoned enough to subscribe to my humble operation in the first place.

Today, I’m announcing the Patriots Project.

If any reader out there finds something in this treasure trove—and believe me, it’s a treasure trove—that they think I might be interested in, please email me at djforohio at gmail dot com or direct message me on Twitter.

Your anonymity is always 100% guaranteed.

If I find your tidbit interesting enough to tweet, I’ll send you some free stickers. If you find a thread that’s worthy of an entire article, I’ll send you a free shirt of your choice.

I promise that The Rooster will not devolve into some sort of lurid Wikileaks-style postings. But at the same time, I feel there are plenty of examples in this case that help explain, at least in part, why Ohio government works like it does.

As I’ve written before, these guys didn’t wake up one day and decide to do the RICO on a whim. They came to power in an environment where the largest bribery scheme in state history (that we know about) seemed like just another day at the office to them.

And they were almost right!

Please share that website with anyone else you think might be interested (and tell them to subscribe to The Rooster!)

On Wednesday, we’ll look at the roll that Big Labor played in HB-6 and why the disgraced Neil Clark said the scheme wouldn’t have been possible without them.

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