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NYT: Incoming West Virginia Lawmaker Is Accused of Making Terroristic Threats
NYT - Incoming West Virginia Lawmaker Is Accused of Making Terroristic Threats (free link)
Joseph de Soto, 61, was elected last month to represent the 91st District, but he was arrested before he was sworn in.
By Johnny Diaz and Neil Vigdor
Dec. 12, 2024
Updated 3:53 p.m. ET
Weeks before a newly elected Republican was scheduled to be sworn in to the West Virginia Legislature, the incoming lawmaker was arrested on Thursday in connection with making threats against government officials, the authorities said.
The delegate-elect, Joseph de Soto, 61, of Gerrardstown, W.Va, who was elected last month to represent District 91 in the House of Delegates, was taken into custody and charged with the crime of terroristic threats, the West Virginia State Police said in a statement.
Official records showed that Mr. de Soto had left the Republican Party and had become a Democrat one day before the arrest.
While the authorities did not release details, fellow Republicans stated that Mr. de Soto threatened to kill delegates because he was upset that he was being forced out of his position, according to WVNS-TV. A representative for the state’s Republican Party said the House G.O.P. Caucus had voted to expel Mr. de Soto from the caucus, but it was not clear why they had moved to exclude him.
Mr. de Soto did not immediately respond to inquiries for comment on Thursday.
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Joseph de Soto, 61, was elected last month to represent the 91st District, but he was arrested before he was sworn in.
By Johnny Diaz and Neil Vigdor
Dec. 12, 2024
Updated 3:53 p.m. ET
Weeks before a newly elected Republican was scheduled to be sworn in to the West Virginia Legislature, the incoming lawmaker was arrested on Thursday in connection with making threats against government officials, the authorities said.
The delegate-elect, Joseph de Soto, 61, of Gerrardstown, W.Va, who was elected last month to represent District 91 in the House of Delegates, was taken into custody and charged with the crime of terroristic threats, the West Virginia State Police said in a statement.
Official records showed that Mr. de Soto had left the Republican Party and had become a Democrat one day before the arrest.
While the authorities did not release details, fellow Republicans stated that Mr. de Soto threatened to kill delegates because he was upset that he was being forced out of his position, according to WVNS-TV. A representative for the state’s Republican Party said the House G.O.P. Caucus had voted to expel Mr. de Soto from the caucus, but it was not clear why they had moved to exclude him.
Mr. de Soto did not immediately respond to inquiries for comment on Thursday.
/snip/
/snip
Nice hat...