Tyler Fehrman, a Columbus political consultant, wore an FBI wire to collect evidence against ex-Ohio Republican Party Chair Matt Borges as part of an investigation into what authorities say was the largest bribery scheme in Ohio history. (Photo courtesy of Tyler Fehrman)

Fehrman then called a friend who connected him with the FBI. Agents contacted Fehrman the next day and encouraged him to call Borges back and feign interest in the offer so he could gather evidence for them.

“I would like to tell you that my immediate answer (to the FBI), was, like, ‘Yeah, of course, that sounds great,‘’ Fehrman said. “But it took me a few minutes because it was like a gut punch. I recognize that this is a guy that has a young daughter. He’s got a family, and we were friends.”

After thinking it over, Fehrman told the FBI he would do it. He met Borges again on Sept. 10 – this time, wearing a wire.

“I was terrified. I cannot tell you how unsettling and abnormal and strange it feels to be in that situation,” he said. “I felt on edge, knowing that I had to go in and sit down and interact with (Borges) the same way I would normally as a close friend.”

On Sept. 13, Fehrman again met with Borges, who handed him a check for $15,000 — funded entirely with FirstEnergy money, according to the complaint. Fehrman, who used to work for ex-Gov. John Kasich, said Borges told him the money was for him to organize a reunion of former Kasich staffers.

But starting the very next day, Fehrman said Borges began asking him for inside statistics on how many petition signatures the anti-HB6 referendum organizers were collecting.

“I was hoping my phone would ring and he’d go, ‘Hey, now we can start on the staff reunion,’” Fehrman said. “It’s clear now that was not the case.”

Toward the end of the Sept. 13 meeting, Fehrman — who was again wearing an FBI wire — said Borges warned him, “You better not be screwing me” and that he hoped Fehrman was not secretly recording their meeting for the Columbus Dispatch.

Fehrman said he answered, “I’m not recording anything for the Dispatch.”

As the two were getting up to leave, Fehrman said Borges looked at him and said, “Seriously, though — if you’re ****ing with me, we’ll blow up your house.”

The federal complaint states that Fehrman treated the comment as a joke. But Fehrman says he didn’t consider the remark funny at all.

“I remember getting in my car and just feeling my heart sink,” he said. “I played it off as a joke, but I was already scared — and that terrified me.”

Fehrman said that while he took no joy from his part in the investigation, he would do it all again.

“It’s the right thing, because the people of Ohio deserve better than to have corrupt politicians and lobbyists and political hacks stealing their taxpayer dollars to bail out a corporation and line their own pockets,” Fehrman said.

“I’ve got a 7-year-old daughter who I adore, and I want the world that she grows up in to be a good one,” he added. “And I want leaders who don’t get away with things like this.”

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