Ohio House Speaker Rosenberger’s FBI Investigation Closure

Former Ohio House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger was under FBI investigation for potentially impeding a payday lending reform bill, House Bill 123, in exchange for sponsored travel. Despite the investigation, which began in March 2018 and involved subpoenaing records and executing search warrants, no charges were ever filed against Rosenberger or others connected to the bill, which ultimately passed into law. The investigation, often believed to be motivated by political adversaries, caused significant personal and professional stress for Rosenberger, who resigned in April 2018 to avoid distracting the House from its duties. The government officially closed the investigation in May 2023 without filing charges, a decision that reflects the discretionary power of federal prosecutors and highlights the intense scrutiny and public speculation individuals can face even when not charged with a crime. David Axelrod, Rosenberger’s attorney and a partner at Shumaker Law Firm, emphasizes the resolution allows Rosenberger to move on with his life.