West Virginia House declares de Soto seat vacant
New House Standing Judiciary Committee Chairman Steele also under scrutiny
CHARLESTON — Republican members of the West Virginia House of Delegates overwhelmingly supported a resolution to declare the seat of Delegate-Elect Joseph de Soto vacant due to recent charges of threatening fellow lawmakers making it impossible for him to take his oath of office in Charleston Wednesday.
The House adopted House Resolution 4, declaring that de Soto’s 91st District House seat vacant after de Soto was unable to travel to Charleston to take his oath due to being placed on home confinement following felony charges of making terroristic threats to lawmakers in December.
De Soto was arrested on Dec. 12 after a West Virginia State Police investigation into threats made by de Soto to another person regarding several lawmakers, including House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, R-Clay; House Majority Leader Pat McGeehan; and delegates Michael Hite, R-Berkeley; Chuck Horst, R-Berkeley; Bill Ridenour, R-Jefferson; Mike Hornby, R-Berkeley; and Wayne Clark, R-Jefferson.
The threats stemmed from a closed-door meeting of the House Republican caucus on Dec. 8, where members agreed to move forward with expulsion of de Soto over allegedly false claims about his military service. The complainant provided investigators with emails from de Soto, where he claimed that “God called him to kill them.”
De Soto was placed on home confinement after posting a $150,000 bond. A Berkeley County magistrate also submitted de Soto’s case to a grand jury. Since his arrest, two lawmakers also were granted personal safety orders that require de Soto to not have any contact. These orders remain in effect until 10 days following the conclusion of the 2025 regular legislative session, which ends on Saturday, April 12.
Read more at: https://www.newsandsentinel.com/news/local-news/2025/01/west-virginia-house-declares-de-soto-seat-vacant/