Oh, and he's an MD, too. Obviously mentally deficient.

https://www.wvnstv.com/news/cr...terroristic-threats/

by: Rachel Pellegrino, Isaac Taylor
Posted: Dec 12, 2024 / 09:38 AM EST
Updated: Dec 12, 2024 / 06:35 PM EST

UPDATE (6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 12): A West Virginia delegate-elect remains in jail Thursday evening, charged with allegedly threatening to kill five of his colleagues. This incident also sets up a potential fight over which party controls that seat.

61-year-old medical doctor Joseph De Soto was elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates in November. He ran as a Republican for a seat in Berkeley County. Now, he finds himself charged with making terroristic threats against colleagues at a Republican caucus meeting in the Capitol.

According to a West Virginia State Police report, De Soto allegedly threatened to kill Delegate Bill Ridenour, House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, Delegate Pat McGeehan, Delegate Michael Hite and Delegate Chuck Horst. The complaint said that when De Soto was asked what he meant by what he’d allegedly said, he allegedly said that God called him to kill them.

WOWK 13 News has also confirmed that the day before his arrest, De Soto switched parties from Republican to Democrat. That could cause a legal fight over which party retains the House seat.

“The Republican Party may contest that and say he was elected as a Republican, and so it should be a Republican, so I am sure there is going to be some litigation,” said Tom Susman, political analyst for WMOV Radio. “If he does come in as a Democrat, then that means that the Democrats in the caucus can now demand roll call votes, where as with only nine, they couldn’t demand roll call votes.”

Sources tell WOWK 13 News De Soto was being investigated for allegedly falsifying his medical and military career information during the course of his campaign. That’s why Republicans voted to expel him from the caucus.

De Soto remains in the Eastern Regional Jail on a $300,000 cash bond.

West Virginia GOP Chairman Matt Herridge released a statement earlier today that can be found farther down this article in the original version of the story.

West Virginia Democratic Party Chair Mike Pushkin has now also released the following statement:

“First and foremost, our thoughts are with the delegates and their families who were subjected to these alleged threats. No one—especially those working in public service—should ever have to fear for their safety or the safety of their loved ones. These allegations are deeply serious and should be treated with the full weight of the law.
Violence and intimidation have no place in our government or our democracy. Public service is about resolving differences through dialogue, not threats. We trust that law enforcement will conduct a thorough investigation, and we hope for a swift resolution that prioritizes the safety and well-being of all involved.
At a time when political rhetoric is already heightened, it is essential that our elected officials and those seeking public office conduct themselves with integrity, respect, and accountability. We will continue to support efforts to ensure the safety of those who work in service to the people of West Virginia.”

Crazy. You say he’s an MD too but the article says he’s under investigation for possibly falsifying that.

This guy is a psycho, is not licensed to practice medicine anywhere but did indeed obtain his medical degree from Howard University, according to this investigative piece. So, he's a real fraud, in terms of practicing medicine w/o a license. There are other false claims, too.