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COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The Latest surrounding the Ohio House speaker's position (all times local):
6 p.m.
A Republican lawmaker who says he has the votes to be Ohio's next speaker is accusing his chief rival of underhanded dealing and says under no circumstances is he under investigation by the FBI.
House Finance Chairman Ryan Smith, of Gallia (GAL'-yuh) County, angrily called out state Rep. Larry Householder, a fellow Republican and former speaker, and his allies for stalling the speaker selection with tactics "from bullying to threats to downright extortion."
The impasse has brought House business to a halt.
Smith said state Rep. Andy Thompson, of Marietta, is Householder's "proxy" in the fight to fill the unexpired term of Republican Cliff Rosenberger, who resigned in April amid FBI questioning. Householder is positioning to be speaker again next session.
The FBI searched Rosenberger's house Wednesday and Smith said false rumors were being spread that his house was, too.
Householder called Smith's allegations unfounded and "unequivocally false."
10:14 a.m.
Federal agents are searching former Republican Ohio House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger's home in southwest Ohio and a nearby storage unit.
An FBI spokesman confirmed Wednesday that the agency was "conducting law enforcement activities" in the area.
Rosenberger resigned from the House last month after saying he was aware the FBI was asking questions about his activities and that he'd hired criminal defense attorney David Axelrod. The FBI is said to be looking into Rosenberger's international travel and his lavish lifestyle, including living in a luxury condo owned by a GOP donor. Rosenberger has denied wrongdoing.
Axelrod said Rosenberger has nothing to hide.
The FBI investigation has clouded replacement efforts. Speaker Pro Tem Kirk Schuring canceled sessions for the remainder of this week due to an impasse on selecting Rosenberger's successor.
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