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Gov. Justice Calls on Lawmakers to Again Consider Impeaching Loughry

Steve Helber
/
AP Photo
Suspended Justice Allen Loughry (pictured wearing a red tie) looks on during pre-trial hearing in the West Virginia Senate's Court of Impeachment on Sept. 11, 2018. With his impeachment deemed unconstitutional, lawmakers will return to the issue Tuesday.

Gov. Jim Justice has called a special session of the West Virginia Legislature to again consider the impeachment of suspended state Supreme Court Justice Allen Loughry.

Lawmakers will return to the matter Tuesday. They will already be in Charleston for their monthly interim committee meetings.

Loughry and three other justices of the state’s high court were impeached in August for their roles in a nearly year-long spending scandal involving lavish office renovations and the use of state resources for private gain.

State senators tried and acquitted Justice Beth Walker in early October. But the remaining impeachment trials came to a sudden halt when an ad hoc bench of the state Supreme Court deemed the impeachments unconstitutional and cited procedural flaws in the House of Delegates.

In separate but related charges, Loughry was found guilty on 11 federal counts, including fraud, witness tampering and making false statements. His sentencing is scheduled for January 16, but his attorney has filed motions for a new trial.

 

A native of Washington, West Virginia, Dave Mistich joined West Virginia Public Broadcasting in October of 2012, as the Charleston Reporter. After bouncing around a variety of newsroom roles at WVPB, he now focuses on state-level politics and government, as well as breaking news. Dave plays on the world's best-worst softball team, Chico's Bail Bonds. He can be reached via email at dmistich@wvpublic.org and you can follow him on Twitter @davemistich.

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