COLUMBUS, Ohio – A second FirstEnergy lobbyist invoked his constitutional rights against self-incrimination during a deposition and refused to answer nearly 300 questions about his role in a scandal-ridden lobbying campaign that spawned a wave of criminal convictions and indictments.

Justin Biltz, FirstEnergy’s director of state and regulatory affairs until his employment ended in 2021, with rare exceptions, deflected questions Thursday about text messages, emails and other documents revealing his involvement in the scandalous lobbying and (according to FirstEnergy) bribery campaign to pass the State House documented Bill 6 in 2019. The legislation instituted a $1.3 billion bailout of the company’s revenue streams, while Another ‘decoupling’ provision took effect, electric sales were at an unusually high base number.