West Virginia GOP Rep Charged With Threats To Kill Fellow GOP Reps, Claims God Called Him To Kill Them

December 12, 2024 Politics, Republicans

The Associated Press reports:

A newly elected state lawmaker in West Virginia is facing at least one felony and is accused of making terroristic threats. Joseph de Soto, 61, was arrested by state police Thursday in Martinsburg following an investigation that found he made “several threatening/intimidating threats against government officials,” according to a statement from Lt. Leslie T. Goldie Jr. of the West Virginia State Police.

One of de Soto’s alleged targets was West Virginia Republican Speaker of the House Roger Hanshaw, the television station WVDM reported, citing a criminal complaint. De Soto was elected to his first term in the West Virginia House as a Republican representing part of Berkeley County in the state’s eastern panhandle in November, receiving 72% of the vote in the general election after defeating two other Republicans in the May primary.

Charleston’s CBS affiliate reports:

De Soto threatened to kill delegates, including House Speaker Roger Hanshaw (R-Clay), after being voted out of his position during a Republican caucus meeting, according to a criminal complaint. The complaint said that De Soto had been upset and felt like he was being attacked and forced out of his position.

According to the complaint, De Soto said on the phone that he was going to kill Del. Michael Hite (R-Berkeley), Del. Pat McGeehan (R-Hancock), Del. Chuck Horst (R-Berkeley), Del. Bill Ridenour (R-Jefferson) and House Speaker Hanshaw.

The complaint said that when De Soto was asked what he meant, he said that God called him to kill them. There was also a text message sent where a person asked De Soto to stop saying that he was going to kill people, to which he responded, “I did say I am going to kill people I said I am going what is necessary to put them from office,” according to the complaint.

Hit the link below. Whoa.



Tags

© joemygod.com 2025