By Josephine E. Moore, The Register-Herald
BECKLEY, W.Va. — The Raleigh County Commission voted unanimously Thursday to initiate an impeachment process to remove Benjamin Hatfield as Raleigh County prosecuting attorney.
“The Raleigh County Commission is removing Mr. Hatfield from his office due to official misconduct and neglect of duty,” said Raleigh County Commission President Greg Duckworth at a special commission meeting Thursday morning.
During the meeting, commissioners met for roughly an hour in executive session before voting to file a petition to remove Hatfield.
Thirty minutes after announcing the decision, a petition to remove Hatfield from office was filed in Raleigh County Circuit Court citing “official misconduct” and “neglect of duty” as the grounds for Hatfield’s removal.
Hatfield declined a request to comment on the matter.
The petition then lists multiple “wrongful acts” allegedly committed by Hatfield as the basis for its claims, which were “based upon publicity available information and based upon the good faith belief and independent investigation of the Raleigh County Commission.”