Last month saw West Virginia state Rep. Joseph de Soto switch his party registration from Republican to Democrat one day before he was arrested for making terroristic threats.

The 61-year-old made headlines again this week when his fellow lawmaker moved to expel him from the state Capitol. 

State House speaker and House majority leader targeted

According to the Associated Press, de Soto was elected to West Virginia's 91st district as a Republican in November, winning some 72% of the vote.

However, he was apprehended after announcing that God had instructed him to kill other legislators, including House Speaker Roger Hanshaw and House Majority Leader Pat McGeehan.

The Washington Times reported that de Soto was taken into custody by the Martinsburg Detachment of the West Virginia State Police.

West Virginia delegate-elect Joseph de Soto jailed for threatening to kill Republicanshttps://t.co/BoYZEGSF2L pic.twitter.com/hf3Z2MJw65

— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) December 16, 2024

"Any person making these threats used to intimidate, disrupt or coerce the members of our West Virginia Legislature or other governmental bodies will not be tolerated," a West Virginia State Police press release was quoted as saying.

Lawmaker allegedly sent threatening messages

Should he be found guilty, de Soto will face a maximum fine of $25,000 along with a sentence of three years behind bars.

The Times explained that police were provided with electronic communications that de Soto had sent to his alleged victims.

One email read, "I had a vision to destroy them from the angel of Moroni." Meanwhile, a text message stated, "I did say I am going to kill people. I said I am going [to do] what is necessary to put them from office."

The Associated Press noted that de Soto was released on bond just over a week after his arrest by the Berkeley County Magistrate Court.

Under the conditions of his release, de Soto must remain on home confinement and is barred from accessing weapons or contacting the individuals he is accused of threatening.

De Soto will be replaced by a Democrat

The Associated Press pointed out how West Virginia’s Constitution states that vacancies must be filled by the governor from a list of three people submitted by the party executive committee "of the same political party with which the person holding the office immediately preceding the vacancy was affiliated at the time the vacancy occurred."

That task will be the responsibility of West Virginia Gov.-elect Patrick Morrisey, who is scheduled to be inaugurated on Monday.

Morrisey is replacing outgoing Gov. Jim Justice, who was elected to fill the United State Senate seat vacated by Sen. Joe Manchin.