COLUMBUS, Ohio — Newly surfaced texts between then-FirstEnergy Corp. executives detail a series of favors delivered to the company by Ohio’s top utility regulator, a man under scrutiny in an ongoing federal corruption probe.

Akron-based FirstEnergy’s friend on the inside in early 2020 was Sam Randazzo, chair of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. Randazzo resigned last November after an FBI search of his home and revelations that top FirstEnergy executives had approved paying him $4.3 million, weeks before his appointment as Ohio’s top utility regulator in 2019.

FirstEnergy spokesperson Jennifer Thornton declined comment on the text messages.