Though Ohio House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger announced on Tuesday that he would leave May 1, his resignation is now effective immediately.
But Rosenberger is still maintaining his innocence in the face of an FBI inquiry.
The FBI is said to be interested in Rosenberger’s international travel last year with some lobbyists connected to payday lending. Rosenberger has said he believes his actions have been ethical and lawful.
He did not attend a House session on Wednesday, the same day a committee vote on a compromise bill to crack down on payday lending was halted.
Pressure was mounting among Republicans, including Ohio Auditor Dave Yost, for him to leave right away. A spokesman for House leadership said in a statement that now that Speaker Pro Tem Kirk Schuring has assessed the office’s responsibilities and who has the decision-making authority, Schuring felt it was in the best interest of the House that Rosenberger resign immediately.
