Ohio House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger has hired a lawyer after learning he is the subject of FBI inquiries. Though the FBI is reportedly asking about activities he may be involved in, Rosenberger says he hasn’t been officially told he’s under investigation.
Rosenberger hired Columbus attorney David Axelrod, according to the Dayton Daily News.
Rosenberger’s second in command in the Ohio House, Speaker Pro Tem Kirk Schuring (R-Canton), isn't saying much about what’s next.
Schuring said he doesn’t think anyone knows the purpose of the inquiry. But he said reports that the Republican caucus will ask for Rosenberger’s resignation are untrue.
“It's a very ugly political season we're in right now and these rumors – from what I know, with my contacts with our members – are totally false and unfounded," Schuring said.
Schuring said there was credible evidence of improper actions in other cases where lawmakers were asked to resign – which he says isn’t the case here.
There’s an increasingly heated race to replace the term-limited Rosenberger building between Rep. Ryan Smith (R-Bidwell), who is supported by Rosenberger, and Rep. Larry Householder (R-Glenford), who was Speaker in the early 2000s.
