Prison Chief Investigated for His Expenses

State authorities are investigating the commissioner of the West Virginia Division of Corrections and other high-ranking officials after auditors accused the commissioner of taking state money for unauthorized travel expenses.

Citing a letter released Thursday by state auditors, The Charleston Gazette-Mail reports that the Legislature’s Commission on Special Investigations and Legislative Auditor’s Office are both investigating State Corrections Commissioner Jim Rubenstein’s expenses.

Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety Secretary Joe Thornton writes in the letter that auditors flagged Rubenstein for being improperly reimbursed for a $138 March 2015 hotel stay in Charleston, even though Rubenstein has an apartment in the city.

Thornton writes that investigators are working to see if the reimbursement was part of a larger pattern.

Rubenstein did not return the newspaper’s requests for comment Thursday.