CHARLESTON, WV (WOWK) – The federal government wants coal companies owned by U.S. Senate candidate and West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice (R) and his family charged with contempt of court because they still owe half a million dollars, several months after the debt was supposed to be paid off, court documents show.

The contempt of court motion and accompanying memorandum were filed Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia. According to the documents, the companies still owe the federal government $579,041.53.

This all comes from court documents and stems from a 2019 lawsuit in which the U.S. sought to collect civil penalties from the Mine Safety and Health Administration totaling five years of unpaid amounts.

They show that the companies were owed a total of $5,130,125.47, including $4,065,578.29 in civil penalties and $1,064,547.18 in penalties not listed in the complaint.

The monthly payments were set at $102,442, to be paid off in full by March 1, 2024. No additional interest or 10 percent surcharge would be required. According to the documents, it would begin with an initial payment of $212,909.44 by April 15, 2020.

The federal government stated in its memorandum: “Despite numerous reminders from the government regarding late and non-payment, the defendants refuse to pay. This blatant violation justifies a finding of civil contempt.”

Court documents also include emails with reminders for missed or overdue payments.

The federal government wants the court to find them guilty of civil contempt of court and hold a hearing with the defendants to “explain to the court why they should not be charged with civil contempt of court for failing to comply with the court’s orders.”

Governor Justice recently accused the Biden administration of conducting a witch hunt against him. He said this because he is running for the U.S. Senate as a Republican and is the front-runner in most polls.

He said his two children have run the family businesses since he took office.