FirstEnergy has fired its chief executive officer along with two other executives amid an alleged $60 million bribery scheme involving House Bill 6. 

The company fired CEO Charles Jones and the two executives Thursday after the Independent Review Committee of the Board found that these executives violated certain FirstEnergy policies and its code of conduct.

The president of FirstEnergy, Steven E. Strah, has been appointed as the acting chief executive officer.

The news came down the same day as the guilty pleas from two Ohio political operatives for their roles in the alleged bribery case.

Juan Cespedes, a lobbyist that investigators have described as a "key middleman," and Jeffrey Longstreth, a political adviser to ex-Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder, both pleaded guilty Thursday. 

Former Republican House Speaker Householder and a total of four others were charged with racketeering for their alleged roles in the scheme.

The five are accused of shepherding $60 million in energy company money for personal and political use in exchange for passing House Bill 6, which aimed to bailout two aging nuclear plants.

A criminal complaint names FirstEnergy and its affiliates as the energy company, but no FirstEnergy officials have been charged. 

State Senator Sean J. O’Brien (D-Bazetta) released the following statement about the firings.

“FirstEnergy’s decision to fire its CEO and two of its top executives is just another reminder that we need to repeal House Bill 6 as soon as possible. The General Assembly is reconvening in 10 days. My bill to repeal H.B. 6 has already received two hearings, and I look forward to being back in Columbus to push for its final passage."

O'Brien added, "The people in my district should not have to pay the price for the largest public corruption case in Ohio history, but they will if H.B. 6 is not repealed before the end of the year.”