Ohio GOP to discuss House speaker's political consultants

COLUMBUS (AP) -- House Republicans will discuss the federal investigation of political consultants to Speaker Larry Householder during a two-day retreat this week, a top legislator said.
Rep. Jon Husted of Kettering, who's expected to succeed Householder as speaker next year, said Friday he has asked Householder to make sure the consultants are on the agenda for the retreat of the 62-member GOP House caucus.
A federal grand jury has issued subpoenas to companies that have done work for Householder as part of an investigation of his campaign practices. The subpoenas come after the Glenford Republican was targeted by an anonymous nine-page memo that alleged a scheme to embezzle campaign funds. The memo surfaced in March.
Householder, who can't run for re-election in the House because of term limits, has repeatedly denied the allegations.
The FBI and Internal Revenue Service are investigating.
Five consultants, whose businesses have been paid millions of dollars to assist GOP candidates, were mentioned in the memo. Individual House Republican candidates and the House GOP caucus' campaign committee are among the consultants' most lucrative clients. Federal investigators have served subpoenas on at least four of the consultants.