West Virginia Governor Jim Justice.
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On Wednesday, the Justice Department charged the son of West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice and 13 coal companies owned or operated by the young Justice for failing to pay millions of dollars in fines for environmental violations.
The governor’s son, Jay Justice, and the companies he controls have been subpoenaed for more than 130 violations and owe more than $5 million in civil penalties and other unpaid fees, the Justice Department said in an investigative report civil complaint.
“Our environmental laws are designed to protect communities from the adverse effects of industrial activity, including surface coal mining,” Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Division of Environment and Natural Resources said in a statement. Press release.
“Through this lawsuit, the Department of Justice seeks to hold defendants accountable for their repeated violations and to recover the penalties they owe for those violations,” King said.
The elder judge, reportedly the wealthiest man in West Virginia, has been accused of meddling in his family’s business empire as governor even as he vows to separate himself From the company after taking office.The companies also face charges don’t pay their bills.
The Republican governor launched a campaign last month for the Senate seat held by Democratic Senator Joe Manchin. Justice’s campaign insists the governor does not run a family business.
Manchin, who could face an uphill battle for re-election in the deep red state, has not said whether he plans to run again in 2024 despite being the incumbent.
A spokesman for the Judiciary Senate campaign did not immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment.
Tate Mitchell, spokesman for the National Republican Senate Committee, said in a statement: “Joe Biden’s Justice Department is a complete rogue. The Democrats are weaponizing the federal government to attack the family of the Republican Senate nominee, This is a total abuse of power.”
This is developing news. Please check for updates.