In our upcoming EcoReporter segment, we will be discussing the recent financial disclosure report of Gov. Jim Justice for his U.S. Senate campaign. The report revealed some interesting findings that shed light on Justice’s financial situation.
According to the report, Justice and First Lady Cathy Justice reported a total of $253,000 in salaries. This includes $250,000 from Justice’s salary as governor, $3,500 from his salary as a high school basketball coach, and less than $1,000 from Cathy Justice’s salary from the Greenbrier Hotel Corp. Some have questioned how Justice can report a salary of $250,000 as governor when his official salary is set at $150,000. It is unclear what specific timeframe the report covers, but it is possible that it includes additional perks and benefits associated with the governor’s office.
The financial disclosure report also listed 147 assets, including stocks, bank deposits, accounts receivables, real estate, and blind trusts. The estimated worth of these assets ranges from $37.5 million to over $1.9 billion. However, Justice only reported between $25,000 and $73,000 of income derived from dividends and interest from 10 of these assets. This raises questions about the true value and income generated by these assets.
On the other hand, Justice and his wife reported between $37.5 million and $108.1 million in liabilities, including lines of credit, promissory notes, and judgments. Notably, four of these liabilities are lines of credit from Justice-owned businesses, such as the Greenbrier Resort. These lines of credit have no interest and are payable on demand, allowing Justice to access funds whenever he needs them. While this arrangement makes sense given that it is his business, it does complicate the picture when it comes to reporting income and assets.
Additionally, Justice has received two loans from former senior adviser Bray Cary, totaling between $2 million and $10 million. These loans are in the form of promissory notes with a 10% interest rate, directly owed to Cary and the Cary Foundation. It is worth mentioning that Cary sold his media company, West Virginia Media Holdings, in 2015. Justice appointed Cary to the West Virginia University Board of Governors in July 2021.
In July 2021, it was reported that Jill Justice, the daughter of Gov. Justice and manager of his hospitality businesses, had an $8 million tax lien placed on her by the IRS. While this may be a coincidence, it adds another layer of complexity to the financial situation of the Justice family.
Overall, the financial disclosure report raises questions about Gov. Jim Justice’s true income, assets, and liabilities. It is important to have transparency and clarity when it comes to the financial affairs of public officials, especially those running for office. We hope that this commentary provides a fresh perspective on the matter while adhering to our commitment to delivering environmentally focused content that is appropriate for all audiences.
