Incoming State Lawmaker Arrested For Allegedly Threatening To Kill Soon-To-Be Colleagues

An incoming West Virginia state lawmaker was arrested Thursday after allegedly threatening to kill several of his soon-to-be colleagues.

State police arrested Joseph de Soto, 61, after an investigation showed he allegedly “made several threatening/intimidating threats against government officials.”

According to WOWK 13 News, a West Virginia State Police report said the delegate-elect “allegedly threatened to kill Delegate Bill Ridenour, House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, Delegate Pat McGeehan, Delegate Michael Hite and Delegate Chuck Horst.”

De Soto was reportedly being probed for possibly lying about his medical and military records while running for office and up for a vote of removal from the GOP caucus.

He was elected to his first term in the West Virginia House as a Republican but switched his party affiliation to Democrat the day before his arrest.

The police report quoted from phone calls, emails and text messages that Mr. De Soto sent them this week after they voted to remove him from the GOP caucus for lying about his military and medical records. https://t.co/xhDQ0ENOxk

— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) December 14, 2024

West Virginia Delegate Elect Joseph De Soto who switched from the Republican Party to the Democratic Party was arrested for threatening to k*ll 5 Republican lawmakers. He allegedly said that God called him to k*ll them. pic.twitter.com/XPUop478iC

— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) December 15, 2024

WOWK 13 News reports:

WOWK 13 News has also confirmed that the day before his arrest, De Soto switched parties from Republican to Democrat. That could cause a legal fight over which party retains the House seat.

“The Republican Party may contest that and say he was elected as a Republican, and so it should be a Republican, so I am sure there is going to be some litigation,” said Tom Susman, political analyst for WMOV Radio. “If he does come in as a Democrat, then that means that the Democrats in the caucus can now demand roll call votes, where as with only nine, they couldn’t demand roll call votes.”

Sources tell WOWK 13 News De Soto was being investigated for allegedly falsifying his medical and military career information during the course of his campaign. That’s why Republicans voted to expel him from the caucus.

De Soto remains in the Eastern Regional Jail on a $300,000 cash bond.

West Virginia Delegate-Elect Joseph De Soto arrested for terroristic threats | WOWK 13 News https://t.co/TiZI5Lg93x

— American woman (@America40920105) December 14, 2024

WATCH:

Police arrested incoming West Virginia lawmaker Joseph de Soto on Thursday after he allegedly threatened to kill five elected Republicans.

According to the criminal complaint levied against him, de Soto threatened the murders after being voted out of his position during a… pic.twitter.com/4sRi2kMpIp

— Gail Smith (@LuxPresenceRE) December 13, 2024

From the Associated Press:

De Soto did not immediately return a phone or email message Thursday seeking comment. The case is still under investigation, state police said.

West Virginia GOP Party Chair Matt Herridge said Thursday that Republican officials in the state “disavow and condemn” de Soto’s actions.

ADVERTISEMENT

“Our elected officials sacrifice a lot to serve their communities, and it is a travesty for anyone to face the additional burden of threats made against themselves and their families,” he said in a statement.

De Soto changed his party affiliation from Republican to Democrat on Wednesday — the day before his arrest, said Mike Queen, a spokesperson for the West Virginia Secretary of State’s Office. Queen said although officials are allowed to change their party affiliation after they’re sworn in, the office was researching whether a candidate elected under the banner of one party could switch to another before officially taking office.

“The West Virginia State Police and the West Virginia Capitol Police take all threats against government process seriously,” Goldie Jr. said. “Any person making these threats used to intimidate, disrupt, or coerce the members of our West Virginia legislature or other governmental bodies will not be tolerated.”

If convicted, de Soto could face a maximum fine of $25,000 and three years in prison.

This is a Guest Post from our friends over at 100 Percent Fed Up.

View the original article here.