Charles Town, West Virginia – A West Virginia A state delegate-elect was arrested Thursday after threatening to kill several lawmakers, after being told he might be removed from his GOP position.
Rep.-elect Joseph DeSoto, a doctor from Gerardstown — about 100 miles west of Washington, D.C. — allegedly threatened several other delegates, including the Speaker of the House, on Tuesday, expressing anger at being asked to step down.
De Soto is listed in state prison records for Berkeley County as being booked as a “pretrial offender” for making terroristic threats.
Fox News Digital has learned that De Soto was informed of the vote to remove him from office for “undisclosed reasons” and that he was “disturbed” after hearing the news.
Travelers are greeted with a Welcome to West Virginia sign after crossing the East River Mountain Tunnel on I-77 in Princeton. (Charles Kretz)
De Soto then threatened to kill several fellow Eastern Panhandle legislators as well as House Speaker Roger Hanshaw (R-Clay).
“I'm focused on four bad people…they're not angry, but they're at peace, what I should do,” De Soto said, according to the criminal complaint. When an individual tried to stop De Soto from threatening people, his response was “I said I would kill people. I said I would do (sic) what is necessary to get them (sic) out of office.”
De Soto said he had a vision from a Mormon angel to “destroy” Wayne Clark, R-Charlestown and Dells. Michael Hite, Joe Fankhauser and Charles Hurst, all R-Martinsburg. He also claimed that God commanded him to kill another Weirton legislator.
“They play stupid games, get stupid prizes,” De Soto wrote in an email to someone who complained to police, according to a law enforcement report obtained by Fox News Digital.
“The representatives of the Eastern Panhandle…they can all go to Hell. I will send them there as I order.”
In an interview Friday, one of those delegates — Clark — said he received a phone call early from his home on the five-hour commute from Charleston to Charlestown, saying his family had to move immediately because of the threat.
Trump and the Republican Party celebrate Joe Manchin's retirement
Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, in the Eastern Panhandle. ((UCG/Getty))
“I was driving straight into a snowstorm. So, I wasn't able to meet my family until about 7 p.m., and I got the call at 3 p.m.,” Clark said.
Clark praised the Charles Town Police Department and the Jefferson and Berkeley County Sheriff's Offices for acting quickly to secure his family. He also said he hoped De Soto would get personal help.
“He obviously needs some kind of help because of some things that happened in his previous life. I don't know,” he said.
The lawmaker said he understands that running for office means having your identity, voices and comments to be public, but stressed that a person's family should never be that way.
“When someone makes threats that are now affecting my family, I don’t know if I’ve ever gotten that call: ‘Hey Wayne. Take your family to a safe place.’ Wow. Well. That’s a tough thing to deal with.”
De Soto was elected as a Republican in District 91, which includes suburban Martinsburg. However, he reportedly filed a request to change his affiliation to the Democratic Party just before his arrest.
The change could lead to a partisan or legal battle over how to replace him, as West Virginia law states that if there is a vacancy for a delegate, the county committee of the outgoing legislator's party “shall appoint a member of the party” to the seat. The West Virginia State Assembly is currently 89-11 Republican.
De Soto was reportedly recently investigated for falsifying information about his medical career, leading to Republican concerns, according to the British Daily Mail. CBS affiliate The Huntington.
Chairman of the West Virginia Democratic Party Del. Mike Pushkin He said the party's thoughts are with the affected delegates and their families.
“No one — especially those in public service — should fear for their safety or the safety of their loved ones,” Kanawha's Pushkin said in a statement. “These allegations are extremely serious and must be dealt with with the full weight of the law.”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
WVGOP Chairman Matt Herridge said in a statement that the party is aware of the allegations and facts of the case “as well as the steps the House Republican Caucus has taken toward expelling (De Soto).”
“Our elected officials sacrifice so much to serve their communities, and it is a travesty that anyone would face the added burden of threats against themselves and their families. The West Virginia Republican Party supports our leadership in the House and the efforts to oust them.”
“We disavow and condemn the conduct of the former Republican delegate-elect and continue to thank all those who are willing to serve their communities and their state, despite the serious challenges this often presents.”
Fox News Digital has reached out to West Virginia State Police for additional comment on De Soto's arrest.
A call to a number listed for de Soto was not returned.
