Ohio House Speaker to resign amid FBI investigation.

Facing an FBI investigation into his overseas travel and a nasty leadership fight to succeed him that is ripping at his caucus, House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger said Tuesday he is resigning from office.

“I believe my actions as speaker have been both ethical and lawful, however, I understand the nature of this inquiry has the potential to be very demanding and intensive, and it could take months or even years,” Rosenberger told the Dispatch.

“There are many important issues that face the state of Ohio. Ohioans deserve elected leaders who are able to devote their full and undivided attention to those matters.”

Rosenberger, who is in his final term, told his Republican caucus tonight that he will resign from the House effective May 1. At that time, Rep. Kirk Schuring, R-Canton, the current No. 2 leader, will take over duties of the office until the House votes for a new speaker to serve until the end of the year.

Rosenberger said no one asked him to resign — noting a few colleagues tried to talk him out of it. He also stressed that he does not think he did anything wrong, despite FBI inquiries into some of his actions.

“I’m not going to put my members and my staff keep having a microphone put in their face ... and have to go through any issues that I’m going through,” he said. “I want to make sure good stuff can still get going.”

Rosenberger, two weeks shy of his 37th birthday, was one of Ohio’s youngest speakers, and the first Asian-American to hold the position, when he used a mix of charm and a gregarious personality to win over members who picked him to lead the House at the start of 2015.


http://www.dispatch.com/news/20180410/speaker-cliff-rosenberger-proclaims-innocence-but-will-quit-house-on-may-1