Democratic challenger criticizes West Virginia Gov. Justice’s business practices

CHARLESTON, WV (WOWK) — The legal problems continue to mount for Gov. Jim Justice (R-WV) and his family’s companies.

A bank in Louisiana said the Justice companies have defaulted on a $35 million loan to the Greenbrier. It was part of federally-backed business aid during the pandemic.

First Guaranty Bank said no payments have been made at all, and the interest is accumulating at $20,000 every day.

This week we also learned that health insurance premiums for Greenbrier employees are overdue, and their health coverage may lapse. All of this as the Greenbrier is scheduled to be auctioned off next Tuesday.

The West Virginia Democratic Party is calling on Justice to drop out of the U.S. Senate race.

“You’re looking at the pending, you know, auction of his flagship property in the Greenbrier here in about 10 days. Maybe he’s not as good at business as we thought,” said former Wheeling Mayor and Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Glenn Elliott.

Elliott added, “You know the governor ran for governor on the basis of him being a business guy. Those were his words not mine. And then you look at what’s been happening to his business empire in recent years.”

We reached out to the Senate campaign manager for Gov. Justice seeking comment, but so far have not heard back.

Gov. Justice has maintained for the past eight years that his son and daughter have been in charge of running the family properties, including the Greenbrier, while he focused his attention on being governor.

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