Greenbrier Resort dispute now heats up West Virginia US Senate race

CHARLESTON, WV (WOWK) — West Virginia Governor Jim Justice (R) says his family’s Greenbrier Resort is back on solid financial ground. But Democrats say the troubles show the governor’s lack of financial and leadership skills, and he should not be the next U.S. Senator from West Virginia.

The governor has insisted all along that the Greenbrier’s money problems were politically driven, and now it has become an issue in the U.S. Senate campaign.

Late Tuesday night the Justice companies announced they had come to an agreement to refinance the Greenbrier’s debt. Wednesday, the governor confirmed that a company known as Fortress Investment Group negotiated a deal with his two children. A $24 million payment to Beltway Capitol now prevents the Greenbrier from being auctioned off.

Justice says this clearly reflects his and his children’s financial and leadership skills and is why he’ll make a good senator. Democrats disagree.

“Not only is he compromised because of the debts he owes to Russia and Saudi interests, and other countries, we don’t even know where else he owes money to. He had stated publicly, very clear, that he doesn’t want to go to DC, that he doesn’t intend to be there to win any attendance awards,” said former Wheeling Mayor Glenn Elliott, (D) Nominee for WV U.S. Senate.

“Now you can tell Glenn Elliott, that he can kiss Babydog’s hiney. I mean here’s a guy that really and truly, you know failed almost as the Mayor of Wheeling,” said Justice.

Democrats have criticized Justice’s dealing with the Saudi-backed LIV Golf tournament that was at the Greenbrier this past summer. They’ve also criticized the Justice companies for dealing with Russian coal interests. The governor says both created jobs and economic impact for West Virginia.

The governor added that by staving off the Greenbrier auction, its 2,000 employees will be able to keep their jobs.

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