West Virginia Senator Jim Justice to Pay $5M in Back Taxes
WASHINGTON – West Virginia Senator Jim Justice, a republican, has agreed to pay $5 million in back taxes to resolve a lawsuit brought by the US government, according to court filings unsealed Monday. The settlement concludes a legal battle stemming from unpaid taxes related to his coal businesses.
justice,who served as West Virginia’s governor from 2017 until his election to the Senate in January,faced allegations of personally guaranteeing loans for his companies and then failing to report the income. The lawsuit, filed in December, detailed significant unpaid taxes dating back years, including debts owed to the IRS and other creditors. Justice won the Senate seat vacated by fellow West virginia coal tycoon Joe manchin,a Democrat.
According to the Associated Press, Justice claimed in October that the collection efforts against him were politically motivated, stating his businesses “are complicated and complex” and praising his children’s management of them. “At the end of the day, I’d say just let it be and see how it plays out,” he said.
The settlement requires Justice to make full payment of the $5 million within 30 days. The Justice Department initiated the lawsuit after years of financial scrutiny surrounding the senator and his business empire, which includes coal mines, resorts, and agricultural operations.
