Republicans are up in arms after the Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a civil lawsuit against the coal business run by the family of West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice (R).
The multi-million dollar lawsuit filed on Wednesday names 13 coal companies owned or operated by the Justice family for allegedly owing more than $5 million in combined penalties and fees for more than 130 environmental and health violations related to coal mining.
According to The Washington Times, the federal government is seeking roughly $7.6 million it says is due to the Department of Interior.
The legal action comes a month after the governor announced his 2024 candidacy to unseat Sen. Joe Manchin, who is reportedly one of the most vulnerable Democrats facing reelection. (RELATED: Jim Justice Poised To Launch Senate Campaign)
The move by the Biden admin immediately triggered accusations of political targeting from Republicans.
“Joe Biden's Department of Justice has gone totally rogue,” said Tate Mitchell, a spokesman for the Senate GOP's campaign arm the National Republican Senatorial Committee. “Democrats weaponizing the federal government to attack the family of a Republican Senate candidate is a complete abuse of power.”
Todd Kim, assistant attorney general for DOJ's Environment and Natural Resources Division defended the lawsuit by saying prosecutors were targeting coal companies to protect Americans.
“Our environmental laws serve to protect communities against adverse effects of industrial activities including surface coal mining operations,” he said. “Through this suit, the Justice Department seeks to deliver accountability for defendants' repeated violations of the law and to recover the penalties they owe as a result of those violations.”
The Justice family coal business has faced millions of dollars in fines and legal settlements in years past, according to The Washington Times. The Governor confirmed that he is exploring a sale of his companies and their assets to free up debt.
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More criminal activity by the Demonrats.