Joseph De Soto, a newly elected delegate in West Virginia, has been arrested and charged with making “terroristic threats” to kill five Republican lawmakers. The arrest came just one day after De Soto, 61, switched his party affiliation from Republican to Democrat, a move that has fueled heated debate in state political circles.
The West Virginia State Police have alleged that De Soto threatened to kill Delegate Bill Ridenour, House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, Delegate Pat McGeehan, Delegate Michael Hite, and Delegate Chuck Horst. In the police report, De Soto is quoted as claiming that he was “called by God” to carry out the killings. The shocking nature of the accusations has sent ripples through the political landscape, sparking both outrage and concern.
De Soto’s dramatic party switch and subsequent arrest have led to questions about the future of his seat in the West Virginia House of Delegates. Political analysts are predicting a contentious legal battle over whether the seat—originally won under the Republican banner—should remain with the GOP or be transferred to the Democrats.
“The Republican Party may contest that and say he was elected as a Republican, and so it should be a Republican,” explained Tom Susman, a political analyst for WMOV Radio, during an interview with WOWK 13 News. “If he does come in as a Democrat, then that means the Democrats in the caucus can now demand roll call votes, whereas with only nine, they couldn’t demand roll call votes.”
The controversy surrounding De Soto’s conduct predates his arrest. Weeks earlier, Republican lawmakers had voted to expel him from their caucus over allegations that he had falsified key details about his medical and military background during his campaign. The expulsion left him politically isolated, intensifying tensions within the state legislature.
West Virginia GOP Chairman Matt Herridge condemned De Soto’s behavior in a public statement, calling for swift action to remove him from office.
“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,” Herridge said. “We disavow and condemn the behavior of the former Republican Delegate-elect and continue to thank all those who are willing to serve their communities and state, in spite of the serious challenges it too often poses.”
For the Democratic Party, De Soto’s arrest presents a complex dilemma. While his switch technically increases the number of Democrats in the House, his legal troubles and the severity of the charges against him cast a shadow over any political gains his party switch might have offered. The West Virginia House currently has a Republican supermajority, with Democrats holding only nine seats before De Soto’s controversial move.
De Soto’s potential designation as a Democrat could provide the minority party with procedural leverage, such as the ability to demand roll call votes. However, any such advantage is complicated by the ongoing legal proceedings and the possibility of his expulsion from the House.
The arrest has also amplified concerns over security and the mental fitness of public officials. A spokesperson for the West Virginia House of Delegates declined to comment on the matter, citing the ongoing investigation. Meanwhile, De Soto remains in custody as authorities continue to probe the threats he allegedly made against his GOP colleagues. It is unclear whether additional charges will be filed.
The incident underscores the volatile state of West Virginia politics, where partisanship and personal conduct often collide. Political observers note that the case could have far-reaching implications not just for De Soto but also for the broader dynamics of the West Virginia legislature. The legal battle over De Soto’s seat could set a precedent for how party affiliations and criminal charges are handled in state government.
As De Soto awaits his day in court, the case serves as a stark reminder of the challenges public officials face and the critical importance of maintaining public trust. The allegations against De Soto are among the most severe in recent state history, and the outcome of the case will likely shape the political landscape of West Virginia for years to come.
For now, the focus remains on the safety of the lawmakers involved and the broader implications of De Soto’s actions. Whether he is convicted or exonerated, the fallout from this case is certain to leave a lasting impact on the state’s political environment.
Ridiculous argument!
So transparent.
The DNC is on a losing streak. Let’s witness another self destructive move.
The Despicable Democrats have succeeded thru the decades to brain wash and instill hate and violence in their party members.It came to a culmination with 2008 election .
The Dems all acted like and behaved like ‘knuckleheads’, as Waltz called himself. They need much younger leaders rather than the stale, old farts that are in power now, which think like elites, and have lost all their connections with normal citizens.
Ban the Marxist Democrat Party. Arrest and bannish all in government!
Agree with all these comments and the Demoncrap party is out of control serving an evil totalitarian agenda serving only those with power and big money! Truly demonic to the core!
No redeeming quality not one, which means they and it must be removed from our government in all departments!
All they do is foment hate and violence against Citizens who will not follow the agenda and or shut up!
I learned long ago that is Nazism or full blown Communism!
Why are democrats so lawless???
Bubba, it’s true that “power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely;” and that is them, they are controlled by an evil force now and like doped up zombies keep doing it like an old habit or taking a powerful drug like heroin or say fentanyl!
2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 “and with every wicked deception directed against those who are perishing, because they refused the love of the truth that would have saved them. 11 For this reason God will send them a powerful delusion so that they believe the lie, 12in order that judgment may come upon all who have disbelieved the truth and delighted in wickedness.”
Romans 1:16-32 NIV 16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last,[a] just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”[b] God’s Wrath Against Sinful Humanity 18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles. 24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen. 26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error. 28 Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. 32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.”
Amen.
because the stupid & cowardly (taxpayers) refuse to hold their EMPLOYEES accountable. Will we ever wake up? WE better in the next 4 years…… or GOD help us
True and stop wanting others to do all the heavy lifting while you sorry ass gets bigger!
Amerika is so loaded with loud mouth do nothing and stupid bitches and fagee bastards!
All heathens the lot!
De Soto is a RINO. You know how unhinged they are.
surprised that this was even a “red flag”. Usually the FIBbers act, only AFTER the thug/moron has hit their target (job well done) (dead republican/conservative) (mission accomplished)