Joseph de Soto, a newly elected delegate in West Virginia’s 91st District, has been arrested for allegedly making violent threats against fellow lawmakers, including House Speaker Roger Hanshaw (R). De Soto, a medical doctor from Gerrardstown, was reportedly incensed after being informed he might be removed from his GOP caucus position for undisclosed reasons.
The threats came after a vote was held to strip de Soto of his caucus role. According to reports, de Soto reacted with fury, threatening to kill several legislators, including Speaker Hanshaw. Berkeley County jail records show de Soto is currently being held as a pretrial felon on charges of making terroristic threats.
Breaking: incoming House of Delegates member Joseph de Soto was arrested last night. I am working on getting details; several lawmakers told me it is connected to him making threats to Republican House members. pic.twitter.com/Crtdngx6hp
— Amelia Knisely (@ameliaknisely) December 12, 2024
Fox News Digital revealed that de Soto had recently filed paperwork to switch his party affiliation from Republican to Democrat, complicating the process of filling his seat should he be expelled. Under West Virginia law, when a delegate’s seat becomes vacant, the outgoing member’s party nominates a replacement. The state legislature, dominated by Republicans with an 89-11 majority, could face legal and political contention over de Soto’s potential successor:
“I am focused on four people who are evil … not angry, but at peace what I need to do,” De Soto said, according to the criminal complaint. When an individual tried to stop de Soto from threatening people, his response was “I did say I am going to kill people. I said I am going (sic) what is necessary to put them (sic) from office.”
De Soto said he had a vision from the Mormon Angel of Moroni to “destroy” Wayne Clark, R-Charles Town, and Dels. Michael Hite, Joe Funkhouser and Charles Horst, all R-Martinsburg. He also claimed to have been told by God to kill another lawmaker from Weirton.
“They play stupid games, they are getting stupid awards,” de Soto wrote in an email to a person who complained to police, according to a law enforcement report obtained by Fox News Digital.
“I am upset only with the Eastern Panhandle delegates. I have only begun… and won’t stop,” he said in an email to another individual according to the complaint, which ends with: “they can all go to Hell. I will send them there as commanded.”
In response to the incident, West Virginia GOP Chairman Matt Herridge confirmed the party’s awareness of the situation and expressed support for the House GOP Caucus’s steps toward de Soto’s removal.
“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. The West Virginia Republican Party supports our House leadership and their expulsion efforts.”
“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.”
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Democrats do have an affair with extreme violence. It is a Democrat thing, kind of their love of all Banditos.
Who voted for this lunatic? He will make a fine democrat.
How did this de Soto guy get elected. What is his background? He sounds very unstable and dangerous. He is making serious terrorist threats and should be locked up somewhere.