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Maroney says opponents trying to ‘get him’ by using little known state law

GLEN DALE, W.Va. — State Senator Mike Maroney said those supporting his opponent in next week’s election are “out to get him” after a charge filed this week in connection with Maroney’s yard signs.

Mike Maroney

Maroney, R-Marshall, said a Pleasants County magistrate issued a warrant for his arrest Monday citing a state law that says it’s a crime when a doctor puts his name on a sign without explaining what kind of physician the doctor is.

“The law they cited as they put out a warrant for my arrest was put on the books in 1931 and there is no case law—not one case in 90 years. The only mention of the law is a law review article naming the 5 best and 5 worst laws in the United States, and it made the article as one of the worse. It is clear as day—they are out to get me,” Maroney said in a statement released Thursday.

Pleasants County isn’t in Maroney’s district. The Intelligencer reported Thursday evening the charge had been dropped.

“He hasn’t even been in Pleasants County,” Republican campaign strategist Greg Thomas said Thursday during an appearance on MetroNews “Talkline.”

The charge isn’t the first Maroney has faced. There remains a misdemeanor prostitution charge on the books in Marshall County that has been lingering for 14 months. Then on August 5, a new allegation implicated Maroney in another prostitution arrest.

The senator issued a statement last week that was the focus of an Intelligencer newspaper story in Wheeling and then appeared on “Talkline” on Oct. 21.

“It’s totally untrue,” Maroney said on “Talkline. “The night they chose to get this fake, coerced, whatever, confession by this girl I wasn’t even home.”

Thomas said Thursday the attacks may backfire on Maroney’s opponents.

“These false and negative attacks have certainly taken a toll but I think the more people know about what’s actually happening with this the more people see how much a set-up this is and how much Dr. Maroney is being targeted,” Thomas said.

Maroney is being challenged by Democrat Josh Gary in next week’s election. In an interview with MetroNews last week, Gary said Maroney’s record speaks for itself especially during the early days of the pandemic.

“I think he’s just scared,” Gary said, “and he’s doing everything he can to make up reasons as to why everything is against him.”





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