Gov. Jim Justice

PARKERSBURG — Citing investigations and the appearance of favoring a candidate, the chairman of the Wood County Republican Executive Committee proposed moving the state party’s summer meeting site away from The Greenrbrier Resort.

The resort is owned by the Republican Gov. Jim Justice, who has announced he is running for re-election in 2020.

“Firstly, the ethics and optics of scheduling an event to promote and enrich one candidate for governor over others in advance of a primary are quite negative,” Rob Cornelius, chairman of the Wood County Executive Committee, said in an email to the committee.

“Our chairwoman claims to make no endorsement in this race. But there is no other message that can be gleaned from this scheduled event at The Greenbrier, but a desperate endorsement of Jim Justice.”

The summer meeting is scheduled in August at The Greenbrier. The location will stand, according to Melody Potter, state Republican Party chairman.

“Our West Virginia Republican Party Summer Meeting and Donor Leadership Retreat will not be moved and we’re very excited about the opportunity to combine our summer business meeting with a major fundraising event for the state party,” Potter said.

“It’s unfortunate that Mr. Cornelius continues to use his position as chairman of the Wood County Republican Party to embarrass the Republican Party, attack our candidates and sew dissension among Republicans,” Potter said. “He doesn’t represent the views of the majority members of the Republican State Executive Committee.”

Besides the appearance of favoring a candidate, Cornelius pointed to the investigations surrounding Justice.

The Public Integrity Section of the U.S. Department of Justice is conducting an investigation. It has subpoenaed records from the West Virginia Department of Commerce related to The Greenbrier Resort, The Greenbrier Classic golf event and Old White Charities, which are run by Justice’s family.

“Multiple units of the Department of Justice are investigating the Justice administration and Justice family for possible charity fraud, tax fraud, FEMA/HUD fraud in flood relief, and improper dealings with a state sponsor of terror, Qatar,” Cornelius said. “This is not a drill. This is very serious.”

A message left with the governor’s office was not immediately returned.