WV House, Senate Democrats want AG opinion on Auditor Hunt’s actions after WV Watch investigation

Democratic lawmakers in the House and Senate have jointly requested that West Virginia Attorney General JB McCuskey issue an opinion on whether state Auditor Mark Hunt followed the law in executing deeds for delinquent tax properties.

In their request, the House and Senate Democratic Caucuses cited a recent West Virginia Watch investigation showing that Hunt personally signed nine tax deeds last year for a friend, who is also an employee of the auditor’s office. 

Hunt signed the deeds after the deadline mandated by state code. 

“The State Auditor’s Office exists to root out corruption, not to practice it,” the House and Senate Democratic Caucuses wrote in their request on Tuesday. “Thousands of tax deeds pass through that office every year, and the Auditor’s handling of these deeds jeopardizes the appearance of an office that is meant to protect property rights and that must not be rigged for political insiders. 

“The Legislature should seek the opinion of the Attorney General to determine whether or not the Auditor has operated within the bounds of state law.”

Under state law, only the Senate President and Speaker of the House can request a formal opinion from the attorney general. Democratic lawmakers have asked Senate President Randy Smith, R-Preston, and House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, R-Clay, to deliver their request to the Attorney General’s Office. 

“This is not a partisan concern,” Democratic lawmakers wrote. “The 2022 tax-sale reforms were written carefully to protect West Virginians from losing their homes and land without due process. The Auditor’s handling of these tax deeds raises questions about what the law requires, and the Legislature should seek the advice of the Attorney General.”

Democratic members in the House and Senate want McCuskey’s formal opinion on several issues, including whether Hunt had the authority to execute deeds. State law says that the deputy land commissioner — not the auditor — is supposed to sign those deeds. 

McCuskey was also asked to weigh in on Hunt signing the deeds after the statutory deadline.

The nine deeds signed by Hunt went to MAPA LLC, a landholding company incorporated under Patricia Johns, the wife of Robert Johns. 

Hunt confirmed that Robert Johns is an employee of the auditor’s office and his work includes consulting on land issues. Democratic lawmakers want the attorney general to determine if it was inappropriate for Robert Johns to purchase land while working for the state auditor. 

Democratic lawmakers also want to know if there are any remedies available for affected property owners in West Virginia who could have been impacted by Hunt’s actions. 

Prior to becoming attorney general, McCuskey served as state auditor from 2017 to 2025 prior to Hunt assuming the role.

McCuskey has informally responded to Hunt’s allegations that McCuskey left the state’s land division in disarray, thus prompting Hunt to step in and personally sign deeds to get things in order.  

“Claims that the land division was left in disarray do not match the facts of eight years of positive reform and success,” McCuskey wrote in a statement to reporters on Monday.