House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, acting on behalf of a majority of legislators, is formally requesting Gov. Patrick Morrisey convene a special session specifically to remove Delegate Elliott Pritt from office following sex crime allegations.
Hanshaw, R-Clay, sent a letter requesting the special session on August 10 “for the limited purpose of considering and acting upon a resolution to expel Delegate D. Elliott Pritt from membership in the West Virginia House of Delegates.”
Lawmakers are already scheduled to be at the state Capitol on that date for interim legislative meetings. Pritt, R-Fayette, has already been removed from his assistant majority whip leadership position and his committee assignments, including education.
Pritt, 36, has taught social studies and history in Fayette County schools, but has now had his teaching license suspended. He is accused of enticing a 15-year-old girl to produce explicit images and to engage in sexual conduct.
Pritt was arrested Wednesday in Oak Hill, charged with enticement of a minor and made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dwane Tinsley. He has not yet entered a plea.
Pritt is due in federal court for a preliminary hearing at 2 p.m. Monday. Until then, Pritt is being held at the Carter County Detention Center in Kentucky, a facility that has a pretrial detainee contract with the U.S. Marshal Service.
Multiple state political figures have called for his resignation.
“I urge Elliott Pritt, for the benefit of his family and the people of his District, to spare his students and his colleagues at every level the continued embarrassments and distractions and to resign from elected office as soon as he is able,” Hanshaw said earlier this week.
Now the legislature is poised to take an additional step to ensure Pritt no longer serves in public office.
Hanshaw’s letter cites the state Constitution provision that, “The governor may convene the Legislature by proclamation whenever, in his opinion, the public safety or welfare shall require it. It shall be his duty to convene it, on application in writing, of three fifths of the members elected to each house.”
The three-fifths needed equates to 60 out of 100 delegates. The letter submitted by Hanshaw includes 82 signatories plus the speaker, although it’s possible or likely that even more members would favor Pritt’s removal.
The West Virginia Republican Party called for Pritt’s resignation the same day he was charged.
“The allegations against Delegate Elliott Pritt are shocking, sickening, and deeply disturbing. While every person is entitled to the presumption of innocence and due process under the law, charges involving the exploitation and abuse of children strikes at the core of the public trust. It is simply unconscionable,” said West Virginia GOP Chairman Josh Holstein, who is also a state delegate serving areas of Boone County.
“Public officials are held to the highest standard of conduct. Given the seriousness of these federal charges, Delegate Pritt should immediately resign from the West Virginia House of Delegates. The people of his district deserve representation that is beyond reproach, and these allegations make it impossible for him to effectively serve.
Delegate Mike Pushkin, who is also chairman of the state Democratic Party, wrote in a social media post that the allegations against Pritt are “beyond disturbing.”
“While Delegate Pritt is entitled to due process in the criminal justice system, he can no longer credibly serve the people of the 50th District while facing allegations of this magnitude. He should resign his seat immediately.”
Pushkin concluded, “No child should ever have to fear the very adults entrusted with their education and well-being. Protecting children must always come before protecting politicians.”
Pritt has served in the House of Delegates since 2022, initially elected as a Democrat. Pritt won that year after defeating an incumbent Republican, Austin Haynes, who had been accused of sexual harassment.
Pritt changed his party registration to Republican in 2023 and won election again. When Haynes filed to run again in 2024, Pritt posted on social media that the voters of Fayette County had made a “moral decision” in the last election.
“No one is perfect, but there are some mistakes and lapses in character and judgement that just cannot be overlooked or ‘go away,’” Pritt posted about Haynes.
Pritt’s post concluded, “I will keep working hard for the people I represent, and I will continue doing the right thing — even when it’s hard.”