Dave Mistich, Author at West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Kanawha County Del. Sharon Lewis Malcolm Dies at 72

Republican Del. Sharon Lewis Malcolm of Kanawha County died over the weekend. According to a news release from the West Virginia House of Delegates,…

Republican Del. Sharon Lewis Malcolm of Kanawha County died over the weekend.

According to a news release from the West Virginia House of Delegates, Malcolm passed away peacefully in her sleep at the age of 72.

House Speaker Roger Hanshaw said Malcolm’s unanticipated death comes with “great shock and sadness.” He called her a “fierce public servant.”

Malcolm was first sworn in to represent the 39th House District in March 2018, having been appointed by Gov. Jim Justice to fill a vacancy in the office. She was re-elected to a full term later that year and had filed to run again in 2020.

Prior to serving in public office, Malcolm was the first female Assistant Doorkeeper for the West Virginia House of Delegates. She later served as the first female Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms for the West Virginia Senate.

Earlier this month, Malcolm filed a criminal misdemeanor battery complaint against Democratic Del. Mike Caputo for an incident at the Capitol in March. Caputo admitted to kicking in the doors of the House after becoming enraged by an anti-Muslim display just outside the chamber. He later apologized for the incident.

West Virginia Delegation Reacts To Impeachment Inquiry Launched Against President Trump

Updated Wednesday, September 25, 2019 at 2:40 p.m.

West Virginia’s congressional delegation has weighed in on a formal impeachment inquiry launched against President Trump and the contents of a phone call between Trump and Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Ca., announced Tuesday, Sept. 24, that House Democrats are moving forward with an impeachment inquiry related to a whistleblower complaint about the president. Additionally, the White House released a partial transcript of the July 25, 2019, Trump-Zelenskiy phone call. That account of the phone conversation was based on notes taken by White House staff assigned to listen.

According to a partial transcript the White House released Wednesday, Trump asked Zelenskiy for “a favor” by looking into Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and his son, Hunter Biden.

The conversation has raised concerns that Trump may have broken the law by asking for foreign help against a potential presidential contender in 2020. However, the Justice Department has concluded that prosecutors “did not and could not make out a criminal campaign finance violation.”

Capito Calls Impeachment Inquiry ‘Partisan Theatrics,’ Manchin Takes Non-Prejudicial Tone

On Tuesday evening, Republican Sen. Shelley Moore Capito offered a statement characterizing the impeachment inquiry as politically motivated and partisan in nature.

“West Virginians have made it clear to me time and time again that they would rather Congress focus on the issues that truly affect their day-to-day lives — not political and partisan theatrics,” Capito said. “Earlier this afternoon, in good faith, the president said he is willing to release the ‘complete, fully declassified and unredacted transcript,’ and I applaud that decision. Moving forward with an impeachment inquiry before that transcript is even public proves that House Democrats are more interested in partisan politics than in following the facts.”

Since the release of the partial transcript, Capito has not returned West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s request for comment on what is publicly known about the Trump-Zelenskiy phone call.

Sen. Joe Manchin, the only Democrat to represent West Virginia in Congress, struck a cautious, unprejudiced tone with news of the House Democrats’ impeachment inquiry.

“Any allegation of misconduct with a foreign country must be investigated. I firmly believe it is premature to jump to any conclusion until an investigation of the facts is complete,” Manchin said in a statement issued just after noon on Wednesday.

Manchin went on to say that he takes his “responsibility in the process very seriously” and that “the Senate’s role is to evaluate the facts.” The senior senator did not make mention of or comment on the partial transcript released Wednesday by the White House.

“It would be irresponsible of me to comment on each piece of the process until all of the facts come out and the Senate begins to review the findings,” Manchin said, adding that he hopes the Senate rises above party and politics to do what is best for the country.

Republican House Representatives Take Aim At Speaker Pelosi

By midday Wednesday, all three of West Virginia’s Republican members in the House of Representatives had also offered a reaction to the impeachment inquiry, but only one has specifically mentioned the partial transcript of the Trump-Zelenskiy call.

Reps. David McKinley, Alex Mooney and Carol Miller all took aim at Speaker Pelosi and described the impeachment inquiry as politically motivated.

“Speaker Pelosi’s call for impeachment is just another partisan attack on President Trump,” McKinley, of the 1st District, said in a statement issued Tuesday. “This Congress has featured countless investigations, and today’s announcement is nothing more than Democrats continuing to put partisan politics ahead of getting real legislation done.”

Rep. Alex Mooney, a Republican from the 2nd District, echoed McKinley’s sentiments about the impeachment inquiry.

“Nancy Pelosi and her liberal allies in Congress have launched a baseless and purely partisan impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump. The liberals in Congress have been clear from day one that their goal was to take down President Trump and remove him from office,” Mooney said. “As I travel across West Virginia, I talk to folks who are sick and tired of this purely partisan investigation aimed at reversing the results of the presidential election. It is time for Democrats to move on and start focusing on issues that matter to all Americans.”

Rep. Carol Miller, a freshman from the 3rd District, offered a statement similar to McKinley’s and Mooney’s. She released a statement Wednesday morning via Twitter, also accusing Speaker Pelosi of politically attacking the president.

“Nancy Pelosi and House Democrats have once again proven they are willing to stop at nothing to discredit the 2016 election and take down President Trump by any means necessary,” Miller wrote. “It’s time for Washington liberals to stop playing politics and embrace the success of the Trump administration. I encourage my colleagues across the aisle to repurpose this misguided impeachment effort and work with House Republicans to grow our economy, end the opioid epidemic and solve the crisis on our Southern border. I stand with our president.”

Responding to a Wednesday afternoon email from West Virginia Public Broadcasting, Rep. Miller downplayed the contents of the partial transcript of the Trump-Zelenskiy phone call.

“The transcript of the conversation between President Trump and President Zelenskyy clearly shows there was no wrongdoing. How many more times will President Trump have to be exonerated before this Witch Hunt ends?” Miller said.

Other members of the congressional delegation have not yet returned additional requests for comment on the partial transcript released by the White House.

Nicholas County Senator Announces Resignation

West Virginia state Sen. Greg Boso announced Monday he is stepping away from his seat in the 11th District.

The Nicholas County Republican says he is leaving to pursue an opportunity with the Alabama-based engineering firm Forensic Consulting Group.

Boso says his new job will require more travel, which would likely occur during the regular legislative session.

His resignation is effective Thursday, September 26, according to a letter dated Sunday.

Then-Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin appointed Boso to fill the vacancy of Sen. Clark Barnes, who was elected Clerk of the Senate in January 2015. Boso was elected to the seat in 2016.

A Republican Executive Committee will choose three potential replacements before Gov. Jim Justice makes a final decision on an appointment.

Longtime State Senator, Medical Doctor Enters Race For Governor

A longtime state senator from Boone County has announced he is running for the Democratic nomination for governor in 2020.

Sen. Ron Stollings filed pre-candidacy paperwork Monday at the Secretary of State’s office.

“It’s been an incredible decision, because I love the Senate and I love the practice of medicine,” Stollings said Monday. “But at the same time, I love my state, I’m ready to do all I can to help the state of West Virginia.”

Stollings, who works full time as a medical doctor, was first elected to the West Virginia Senate in 2006. He was last elected to another four-year term in 2018.

“I have a lot of experience here in the senate — 14 years. I’m a physician and I see problems with my patients and the citizens of West Virginia every day,” he said. “And I want to do something about it.”

At a brief Monday event, Stollings focused on the impact of the opioid crisis and how substance abuse disorder has affected the state.

“I am uniquely qualified in regards to the substance use disorder and its impact on our health, our economy and our education system in West Virginia,” he said.

Stollings joins progressive Stephen Smith in the race for the Democratic nomination.

Earlier this month, U.S. Senator and former governor Joe Manchin announced he would not run in the upcoming primary.

Those on the Republican ticket in 2020 include incumbent Gov. Jim Justice, businessman and former commerce secretary Woody Thrasher and former Del. Michael Folk.

Whitey Bulger's Family Filing Wrongful Death Claim

The family of slain Boston gangster James “Whitey” Bulger is filing a wrongful death claim against the federal government following his death in prison last year.

The Wall Street Journal reports the family is seeking $200 million in damages in the forthcoming claim. They say Bulger was “deliberately placed in harm’s way” when he was transferred to a West Virginia prison and placed in the general inmate population hours before his death.

The 89-year-old died of blunt force injuries to the head. No charges have been filed, but officials have said two Massachusetts mobsters are suspects.

The federal Bureau of Prisons didn’t respond to an email seeking comment on Friday. Bulger’s lawyer also didn’t respond.

Bulger was sentenced to life in prison for his role in 11 gangland killings. He’d also been an FBI informant.

Fourth Possible Victim Identified In Suspicious VA Hospital Deaths

A fourth person has been named as a potential victim in the ongoing investigation of suspicious deaths at a Clarksburg, West Virginia veteran’s hospital.

Attorney Dino Colombo said Thursday an autopsy has revealed Army veteran Archie D. Edgell died in March 2018 as a result of an unneeded insulin injection.

“The autopsy shows that Mr. Edgell had multiple injection sites in the back of his arms and in his thighs,” Columbo said by phone.

Edgell, a Doddridge County native who lived in Barbour County later in life, died at the age of 85 at the Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center. The results of a December 2018 autopsy were made available in June 2019, Colombo said.

Edgell’s death follows a similar pattern seen in other suspicious deaths at the Clarksburg hospital in recent years. Elderly patients who were not terminally ill suddenly took a turn for the worst as a result of a hypoglycemic event.

At least two of those deaths — including Felix McDermott and George Shaw, Sr. — are being treated as homicides. A possible third victim, John Hallman, was identified last week.

Colombo noted there are multiple similarities between Edgell’s death and the other victims.

“[Edgell] was on the same floor as everybody else, 3-A, at the VA hospital in the same general time frame,” he said.

Colombo said Edgell’s autopsy shows the veteran had injection marks that were consistent with other victims.

“Number three — and, I think in this case, is the most telling thing — is the crash of his blood sugars for absolutely no reason,” Colombo said.

The FBI and the VA’s Inspector General have been investigating multiple suspicious deaths at the facility for more than a year.

Although federal officials have yet to release much information about the investigation, prosecutors said earlier this month they have identified a person of interest. They have said they are at “the beginning of the end” of their work on the case.

Colombo said he believes investigators working are meticulously to close the case and hopes they will soon announce charges. He also noted that insulin can be purchased over the counter at a pharmacy, further complicating the investigation.

“I know everybody would like to have this investigation resolved by tomorrow, or even yesterday. But those guys do a great job of uncovering every piece of evidence they can in putting this together,” Colombo said.

A spokesperson for the VA hospital said that a reported person of interest has been removed from their position.

“Immediately upon discovering these serious allegations, Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center leadership brought them to the attention of VA’s Inspector General while putting safeguards in place to ensure the safety of each and every one of our patients,” the VA hospital spokesperson said in an email to West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Still yet, Colombo said the Edgell family is preparing to notify the government of their intent to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the hospital.

“We have veterans that fought for our freedom and they were vulnerable people who couldn’t protect themselves and who couldn’t speak for themselves,” Colombo said. “They were counting on the VA to protect them and they failed miserably. We’re not going to let that go.”