Reid-Smith responds to West Virginia State Capitol mural lawsuit

KANAWHA COUNTY, WV (WOWK) — West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History Cabinet Secretary Randall Reid-Smith has released a statement about a lawsuit asking that a mural containing a likeness of Gov. Jim Justice’s (R-WV) pet bulldog, Babydog, be removed.

Reid-Smith said the lawsuit is “meritless” and “based on their misunderstanding of the history and facts of the murals project, as well as their misunderstanding or misrepresentation of West Virginia procurement and open governmental proceedings laws.”

The lawsuit was filed in Kanawha County Circuit Court by Gregory Morris and artist Tom Acosta.

They said the Capitol Building Commission and other officials didn’t follow state law regarding open meetings and the bidding process for state projects, according to court documents.

Gov. Justice has previously denied any knowledge of the project and that no one consulted with him about putting Babydog in the mural. He first found out about it the day the murals were unveiled.

The governor said back in July, “Give me a break, I mean for God’s sake of living. You know I think we ought to just… You know if all we’re going to do here is just throw rocks at one another, and everything, so be it.”

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