CHARLES TOWN, WV – A West Virginia The state representative-elect was arrested Thursday after allegedly threatening to kill multiple lawmakers, reportedly after being informed he might be removed from his Republican Party caucus position.
Del-elect Joseph de Soto, a physician from Gerrardstown — about 100 miles west of Washington, D.C. — allegedly threatened several other representatives on Tuesday, including the Speaker of the House of Representatives, reportedly expressing outrage that he was told to resign.
De Soto was listed in Berkeley County state jail records as a “felon under investigation” for making terroristic threats.
Fox News Digital has learned that De Soto was informed of a vote that would remove him from office for “undisclosed reasons” and that “he was upset” after hearing the news.
Travelers are greeted by a West Virginia welcome sign after crossing the East River Mountain Tunnel on I-77 in Princeton. (Charles Creitz)
De Soto then threatened to kill several fellow Eastern Panhandle lawmakers, as well as House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, R-Clay.
“I’m focused on four people who are evil… not angry, but at peace with what I have to do,” De Soto said, according to the complaint. When one person tried to stop de Soto from threatening people, his response was: “I said I’m going to kill people. I said I’ll (sic) do whatever it takes to remove them (sic) from office. “
De Soto said he had a vision of 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 that God told him to kill another lawmaker from Weirton.
“They play stupid games, they get stupid prizes,” De Soto wrote in an email to a person who had filed a complaint with police, according to a law enforcement report obtained by Fox News Digital.
“The Eastern Panhandle deputies… can all go to hell. I will send them there as ordered.”
In an interview Friday, one of those deputies — Clark — said he received a call early in his five-hour drive home from Charleston to Charles Town that his family had to move immediately because of a threat.
TRUMP, GOP CELEBRATE JOE MANCHIN’S RETIREMENT
Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia, in the Eastern Panhandle. ((UCG/Getty))
“I drove straight into a snowstorm. I didn’t meet my family until almost 7 p.m. and got the call at 3 p.m.,” Clark said.
Clark praised the Charles Town Police Department and the Jefferson and Berkeley County sheriff’s offices for acting quickly to keep his family safe. He also said he hopes De Soto gets personal help.
“He obviously needs some kind of help because of some things that happened earlier in his life. I don’t know,” he said.
The lawmaker said he understands that running for office means your identity and votes and comments are public, but insisted that someone’s family should never be.
“Because someone is making threats that are now affecting my family, I don’t know if you’ve ever had that phone call: ‘Hey, Wayne. Take your family to a safe place.” Whoa. Okay. That’s hard to deal with. “
De Soto was elected as a Republican in the 91st District, which includes the suburbs of Martinsburg. However, he reportedly filed to change his affiliation to Democratic just before his arrest.
That change could spark a partisan or legal battle over how he is replaced, as West Virginia law states that if a delegate vacancy exists, the outgoing party’s county committee “shall appoint a member of the party on the seat. The West Virginia State House is currently 89-11 Republican.
De Soto was recently reportedly investigated for allegedly falsifying information about his medical career, which Republicans said raised concerns. Huntington’s CBS affiliate.
Chairman of the Democratic Party of West Virginia Del. Mike Pushkin said the party’s thoughts are with the affected delegates and their families.
“No one – especially those who work in the public sector – should ever fear for their safety or that of their loved ones,” Kanawha-based Pushkin said in a statement. “These allegations are very serious and must be treated with the full weight of the law.”
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
In a statement, WVGOP Chairman Matt Herridge said the party is aware of the allegations and facts of the case, “as well as the steps the House GOP Caucus has taken toward (de Soto’s) expulsion.”
“Our elected officials sacrifice much to serve their communities, and it is a travesty for anyone to face the added burden of threats against themselves and their families. The Republican Party of West Virginia supports our leadership in the House of Representatives and their deportation efforts.”
“We reject and condemn the conduct of the former Republican representative and continue to thank all those who are willing to serve their community and state despite the serious challenges this too often presents.”
Fox News Digital reached out to West Virginia State Police for additional comment on De Soto’s arrest.
A call to a number listed for de Soto was not returned.
