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. The lieutenant did not provide details about the threats or to whom they were directed.

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.

De Soto did not immediately return a phone or email message Thursday seeking comment. A Berkeley County Magistrate Court clerk said that as of Thursday, de Soto had not yet been scheduled for arraignment. The case is still under investigation, state police said.

West Virginia GOP Party Chair Matt Herridge said Thursday that Republican officials in the state “disavow and condemn” de Soto’s actions.

“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,” he said in a statement.

De Soto changed his party affiliation from Republican to Democrat on Wednesday — the day before his arrest, said Mike Queen, a spokesperson for the West Virginia Secretary of State’s Office. Queen said although officials are allowed to change their party affiliation after they’re sworn in, the office was researching whether a candidate elected under the banner or one party could switch to another before officially taking office.

“The West Virginia State Police and the West Virginia Capitol Police take all threats against government process seriously,” Goldie Jr. said. “Any person making these threats used to intimidate, disrupt, or coerce the members of our West Virginia legislature or other governmental bodies will not be tolerated.”

If convicted, de Soto could face a maximum fine of $25,000 and three years in prison.

Incoming Senate President Randy Smith told a TV news station this week that he plans to address “social issues” right away in the 2025 session.

“I would like to get anything like that out of the road so we can concentrate on economic development, creating jobs…” Smith told the station. 

I couldn’t help but find his comments naive. Quaint, even. 

“Social issues” are one of the right’s dog whistles for legislatively bullying everyone from trans kids to librarians. If Smith thinks he will ever be able to get them out of the way to focus on substantive issues, he’d better think again. 

I hate to break it to the Senate president-elect, but once you start trying to appease the anti-liberty movement, they won’t let you stop. You’ll never reach a point where their agenda is “out of the road.” Once they’ve clawed back rights from one group, they’re immediately on to the next. 

Ban trans kids from playing sports? Up next is policing cisgender girls’ femininity. 

Ban gender affirming care for kids? Up next is restricting health care for trans adults. 

Ban abortion? Up next is electronically tracking people’s menstrual cycles. 

Ban same-sex marriage? Up next is eliminating no-fault divorce for everyone. 

This is the defining feature of a movement that lacks real-world solutions for our real-world problems. 

West Virginia is 48th in education. We have the third highest health insurance premiums in the country despite also being one of the poorest states. Tens of thousands lack access to clean water. Our twin crises of addiction and foster care continue to spiral out of control. Our jails are overcrowded and among the deadliest in the nation. 

But rather than find solutions to these complex problems, it’s much easier to demonize our fellow citizens and pit neighbor against neighbor. Somewhere out there, there is always going to be someone who simply has too much freedom. 

But Smith should also be aware that we are every bit as relentless as our opponents. 

While they never stop searching for a group to oppress, we never stop looking for ways to expand the sacred promise encoded in the Bill of Rights. 

Where the other side looks at the world and sees an excess of liberty, we will use every tool at our disposal to get the government out of people’s lives and personal decisions. 

We and our allies have been on the front lines of this fight for more than 100 years and we aren’t going anywhere. 

And we’ll be ready for the Senate president on day one. 

Former Arizona Wildcats football coach Rich Rodriguez is expected to become the next head coach of the West Virginia Mountaineers, joining the Big 12 conference with UofA and Arizona State, according to the Action Network’s Brett McMurphy.

The Sun Devils will host Rodriguez’s Mountaineers next season, while West Virginia will play Arizona in 2026.

Rodriguez spent seven seasons as West Virginia’s head coach from 2001-07, leading the program to a 60-26 record with wins in the Sugar Bowl and the Fiesta Bowl before leaving for Michigan.

He coached Arizona for six seasons and led the program to five bowl games, including the Fiesta Bowl. The Wildcats and Sun Devils had some memorable battles with Rodriguez leading Arizona and Todd Graham at Arizona State.

Arizona fired Rodriguez after the 2017 season following a notice of claim filed with the state attorney general’s office alleging he ran a hostile workplace. A lawsuit alleging sexual harassment and a hostile workplace environment was later dismissed.

Rodriguez has since made stops at Ole Miss, Hawaii (working with Graham) and Louisiana Monroe before Jacksonville State hired him as head coach ahead of the 2022 season. The Gamecocks made the jump to FBS in 2023 and won the 2024 Conference USA championship game over Western Kentucky.

His career comes full circle to West Virginia, which has won six or fewer games in five of the last six seasons. Rodriguez replaces Neal Brown.

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