West Virginia State Senator Mike Maroney (R) is being asked to step down by the West Virginia GOP after being arrested on a drunk driving charge which is his second arrest in two months.
Maroney, who's been serving in West Virginia's Senate since 2016, has been on a spiral lately with multiple serious offenses.
Maroney was arrested on Monday and charged with Control of Vehicle Under the Influence, Expired Registration-1, and No Registration. The traffic stop was initiated due to “numerous traffic infractions,” by Maroney.
This comes after Maroney was arrested last month on a charge of indecent exposure which led to him being stripped of his position as chair of the state Senate Health and Human Resources Committee.
Maroney is already on his way out as he lost the Republican primary in May, and his term is set to expire in January but the West Virginia GOP wants him gone now.
Maroney's troubles began back in 2019 when he was arrested for soliciting prostitution but that charge was eventually dropped.
However, it seems that his solicitation charge was indicative of a pattern of bad behavior as he has now been charged with a DUI and indecent exposure.
His indecent exposure charges are related to an incident where Maroney allegedly engaged in an “overt act of sexual gratification” in a gambling parlor in Glen Dale. A gambling parlor doesn't make for the most dignified haunt for a state senator indecent exposure charges aside.
Ethan Moore, chairman of the Monongalia County Republican Executive Committee, issued a statement saying, "While the legal process must take its course, the perception of impropriety and the repeated legal entanglements surrounding Senator Maroney have brought discredit to the West Virginia Senate."
Moore continued saying, "We believe it is in the best interest of Senate District 2 and the state for Senator Maroney to resign, restoring public trust and the integrity of the Senate."
So far, there is little sign of Maroney resigning his position early which could set up a nasty fight between West Virginia's GOP and Maroney as he tries to hang onto the last few months of his term.
The Monongalia County Republican Executive Committee has passed a resolution calling on Maroney to resign and should he refuse, they are requesting Governor Jim Justice (R) intervene.
Justice is seeking a U.S. Senate seat and has the ability to empower the State Senate to expel or censure Maroney should he refuse to resign.
It's possible that Maroney believes that since he hasn't been convicted for his latest charges, there is no need to resign. It is also unlikely that he will be convicted anytime soon but the rest of West Virginia's GOP power players aren't content to let the legal process play out.
