Senator Jim Justice Agrees to Pay Nearly $5.2 Million in Overdue Personal Taxes
By JOHN RABY, Associated Press
U.S. Senator Jim Justice of West Virginia has agreed to pay nearly $5.2 million in overdue personal taxes, according to a joint motion for consent judgment filed with the federal government. This development is the latest in a series of financial challenges faced by the former billionaire, whose wealth was estimated at $1.9 billion by Forbes magazine last decade. However, his net worth has significantly dwindled since then, with Forbes estimating it to be “less than zero” earlier this year due to liabilities exceeding assets.
Background on Senator Justice’s Financial Challenges
Senator Justice, a former two-term Republican governor, owns dozens of businesses, including coal and agricultural operations. He was elected to the Senate last November, taking over the seat vacated by retiring Senator Joe Manchin. Despite his political success, Justice has faced numerous financial challenges, including unpaid taxes, debts, and liabilities. In 2021, the IRS filed liens over $1.1 million in unpaid taxes on the Greenbrier Hotel, which was later paid off. Additionally, the state Democratic Party has criticized Justice’s financial management, stating that efforts to seize the hotel were “a direct consequence of his own financial incompetence.”
Current Financial Obligations and Debts
According to recent filings, the Internal Revenue Service has filed liens totaling more than $8 million against Justice and his wife on unpaid personal taxes. Furthermore, state tax officials have filed $1.4 million in liens against the Justice family’s historic hotel, The Greenbrier, and the resort’s Greenbrier Sporting Club, over unpaid sales taxes. A foreclosure auction on several hundred lots owned by the Justice family at a resort community near Beckley was also paused last month due to a dispute over unpaid fees. The state Supreme Court is set to review the case.
Impact on Employees and the Community
The financial challenges faced by Senator Justice have also affected his employees and the local community. Last year, a union official at the Greenbrier reported that Justice’s family was at least $2.4 million behind in payments to an employees’ health insurance fund, putting workers’ coverage at risk. Dozens of properties owned by the Justice family in three counties were also auctioned off as payment for delinquent real estate taxes in 2023. Moreover, the Greenbrier Hotel, which employs around 2,000 workers, has been at risk of foreclosure due to unpaid debts.
For more information on Senator Jim Justice’s financial challenges and debts, visit Here
Image Source: www.twincities.com
