Maroney stripped of committee assignments
Senate President Craig Blair responded to allegations levied against State Sen. Maroney, stripping the lame duck Senator of his committee assignments and expressing his disappointment.
Updated 8/16/24: On Thursday, Aug. 15, Sen. Maroney pleaded not guilty to charges of indecent exposure and disorderly conduct. His pre-trial hearing was set for September 18 at 1:30 p.m.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Senate President Craig Blair (R - Berkeley, 15) released a statement Wednesday morning saying he was “deeply concerned” for Sen. Mike Maroney (R - Marshall, 02), who was arrested on Aug. 13 on two misdemeanor charges.
In his statement, Blair said the facts of the case are “troubling,” and that he is “disappointed.” He went on to say, “if true, this allegation is obviously not up to the standard of what we expect from our elected leaders in the State Senate of West Virginia.” Blair added that Maroney is entitled to due process.
Maroney was stripped of his chair position on the Senate Health and Human Resources Committee, as well as his other committee assignments. Blair said he took this action to “give [Maroney] appropriate time to dedicate to his personal issues.”
On Tuesday, Aug. 13, Maroney was charged with two misdemeanors—indecent exposure and disorderly conduct—stemming from an alleged offense on the Sunday prior. On Wednesday, Maroney was released from the Northern Regional Correctional Facility and Jail on a $3,000 personal recognizance bond.
For a full story of Maroney’s arrest and his previous allegations of sex crimes click below.
Full statement from Sen. Pres. Craig Blair:
Above all, I am deeply concerned for our friend and colleague, Senator Mike Maroney. The facts that have emerged are troubling, and I am disappointed. However, in this time, our primary focus is on the well-being of Senator Maroney.
To give him appropriate time to dedicate to his personal issues, I have removed him as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Human Resources and have relieved him of all other committee responsibilities.
Like all citizens, Senator Maroney is entitled to full due process as this matter works its way through the legal system. We join in prayer for our friend Mike and his family as he deals with these issues.
While the charges are still under investigation, if true, this allegation is obviously not up to the standard of what we expect from our elected leaders in the State Senate of West Virginia.