By Toni Milbourne, The Journal
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Legislature agreed to remove Delegate-elect Joseph de Soto from his seat representing the 91st Delegate District, as de Soto remains on home confinement following his arrest for allegedly making terrorist threats against several members of the Legislature.
De Soto was elected to the seat in the November 2024 General Election, where he ran as a Republican. He was arrested Dec. 12 after allegedly saying that God had called him to kill several members of the Legislature, including several within the Eastern Panhandle delegation. The day before his arrest, de Soto changed his party affiliation to Democrat.
During the back and forth within the Legislature regarding the vacating of de Soto’s seat, opinions were shared on whether the seat should be filled by a Republican or a Democrat. According to the legal process, the seat must be filled with a member of the same party as the vacated member. However, since de Soto had yet to swear into the office, it is unclear how the rules apply.
