What are the feds investigating?
The FBI has not confirmed it is investigating Rosenberger but agents raided his Clarksville home and Wilmington storage space on May 23 and House officials have turned over documents to federal authorities. Sources familiar with the probe say they are looking at Rosenberger’s international travel that was funded in part by payday lending industry officials while a payday lending bill stalled in the Ohio House. Rosenberger has said that all this actions as speaker have been lawful and ethical.
Related: Payday lender made 3 international trips with ex-Ohio House speaker
Where is he from?
Rosenberger, who is single and has no children, lives in Clarksville in a Clinton County house owned by his parents. He is 37 years old.
What political experience does he have?
He started in the Ohio House in January 2011 and became speaker in January 2015. He also served in the Air National Guard fighter wings in Springfield and Washington, D.C. and worked as a intern in the George W. Bush White House and as as a special assistant to the secretary of the U.S. Department of Interior.
Where did he go to college?
He graduated from Wright State University in 2012 and was the commencement speaker in 2017.
Related: Rosenberger orders ethics review of WSU emails
Related: From Wright State to House Speaker
What kind of power does the Ohio House speaker have?
The speaker, Senate president and governor are considered the three most powerful positions in state government. The speaker decides what bills are voted on, meets regularly with the governor and Senate president, influences how the state spends billions of dollars and what policies and regulations are adopted.
Who is the speaker now?
State Rep. Ryan Smith, R-Bidwell, was elected speaker in June to serve the remainder of the two-year legislative session. He intends to run for the slot again in January. Smith served as Finance Committee chairman during Rosenberger’s time as speaker.
Related: It takes 11 rounds of voting for Ohio lawmakers to pick new speaker of the House
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