A resolution to remove former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder, under federal indictment, from office by Democratic state Reps. Michele Lepore-Hagan and Jeffrey A. Crossman has been assigned to a committee.

“Our resolution sends a forceful message that corruption has no place in the Ohio General Assembly and that alleged criminal misconduct of this magnitude will not be tolerated,” Lepore-Hagan, D-Youngstown, said.

She added: “Its swift consideration and passage will represent a critical step in restoring the public’s trust and confidence in their government, both of which have been battered” by this “scandal.”

The resolution was introduced May 26. It was referred Tuesday to the House Rules and Reference Committee.

“I’m glad to see the speaker (Bob Cupp, R-Lima) has finally referred the Householder expulsion resolution to committee, but time for action is long overdue,” Crossman, D-Parma, said. “We intend to continue pushing until an expulsion resolution receives a vote on the House floor.”

A July 2020 federal indictment alleges that Householder, R-Glenford, and four other men pushed the passage of House Bill 6, a $1 billion bailout for Ohio’s two struggling nuclear power plants that was signed into law in July 2019, in exchange for $61 million to those indicted and Generation Now, a nonprofit organization involved in the bribery and racketeering scheme.

Householder and former Ohio Republican Party Chairman Matt Borges have pleaded not guilty while two co-defendants and Generation Now have pleaded guilty. A third man indicted died of an apparent suicide.

House members voted to remove Householder as speaker shortly after his indictment, but has repeatedly refused to expel him.

Two Republicans also have introduced a resolution to expel Householder. It hadn’t received a committee assignment as of Tuesday. When it does, it will also go to Rules and Reference.