Video: Previous reporting from December 12, 2024 – De Soto threatened to kill West Virginia delegates: Complaint
CHARLESTON, WV (WOWK) – As an appeal is filed with the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals to decide which party gets to replace Joseph de Soto in the House of Representatives, the West Virginia Democratic Party has unveiled its candidates for the seat.
The Democratic Party says the Berkeley County Democratic Executive Committee is nominating the following three people for Governor Patrick Morrisey to consider: David Michaels of Hedgesville, Stephen Willingham of Hedgesville and Timothy Lee of Inwood.
Those names would only be considered if the court rules that the Democratic Party is entitled to the vacant seat.
The controversy surrounding the seat itself stems from the fact that de Soto switched parties from Republican to Democrat just a day before his arrest in December 2024 for allegedly threatening his future colleagues. This has led to a legal dispute over which party can now keep the seat.
According to a statement from West Virginia Democratic Party Chairman Del. Mike Pushkin, the West Virginia Supreme Court ruled in 2016 that “a vacated seat should be held by the party to which the member belonged at the time of the vacancy, and not by the party to which they belonged.” , when they were elected.”
This statement came after House Resolution 4 passed on January 8, 2025 to officially vacate de Soto from the 91st District seat. However, the Democratic Party says this was done improperly because the matter was referred to the Berkeley County Republican Executive Committee after de Soto had already changed his party and registered as a Democrat.
“It is imperative that the law and the Constitution be followed in this matter.” “We expect the Governor to respect the clear requirements of West Virginia law by appointing one of the three individuals listed above to fill the seat in the 91st Delegate District,” said Tammy Offutt, chairwoman of the Berkeley County Democratic Executive Committee.
“This is not just about a seat,” Pushkin said. “This is about defending the rule of law and ensuring that the people of District 91 receive their rightful representation in the House of Representatives. The House’s actions undermine the integrity of our democratic process.”
The reason the seat is vacant is because de Soto has allegedly threatened to kill Rep. Bill Ridenour, Speaker of the House Roger Hanshaw, Rep. Pat McGeehan, Rep. Michael Hite and, according to a West Virginia State Police report to kill Rep. Chuck Horst. The complaint said that when de Soto was asked what he meant by his alleged statements, he allegedly said that God had called him to kill her. He was
The 61-year-old doctor was elected to the West Virginia House of Representatives in November and ran as a Republican for a Berkeley County seat.
A criminal complaint said de Soto was upset before the arrest and felt like he was being attacked and pushed out of his position. According to the complaint, de Soto said on the phone that he was going to kill the five delegates.
