West Virginia Auditor Signs Deeds for Friend's Company, Lawmakers Say
State representatives from both parties are demanding an inquiry after nine properties with unpaid taxes were transferred to a firm owned by an auditor's employee.
By Lorenzo Patterson ·
Nine properties in West Virginia with delinquent tax accounts were sold to a single company, and the state auditor personally signed every deed. The transactions drew immediate criticism from lawmakers who say the office acted outside its legal authority and benefited a close associate of the official.
The sales were reported by West Virginia Watch on Sunday. The outlet identified nine instances where Auditor Mark Hunt signed tax deeds for properties whose previous owners had failed to pay property taxes. State law assigns the duty of signing these documents to the deputy commissioner, not the auditor. The buyer in all nine cases was a company owned by Robert L. Johns, an employee in the auditor's office. Two of the sales appear to have occurred after a statutory deadline had expired.
Hunt told the news outlet that he inherited an office in disarray when he took office in 2025. He said he took it upon himself to issue deeds that had been delayed by that disorder. Monday evening, JB McCuskey, the state Attorney General and Hunt's predecessor, defended the staff of the Land Division. McCuskey told Metro News that claims of disarray do not match the facts of eight years of positive reform and success.
The West Virginia Democratic Party called for an immediate, independent state investigation on Monday morning. Del. Mike Pushkin, D-Kanawha, and chair of the party, said the deeds benefited a close personal friend who works in the auditor's office. Pushkin noted that he believes Johns' wife has donated to Hunt's campaigns. He stated that government officials must follow procedures precisely when taking people's property. Pushkin argued the property was taken and turned over to a friend and contributor, which he described as incredibly concerning.
Del. Tristan Leavitt, R-Kanawha, called for Hunt's immediate resignation. Leavitt said the law provided a specific window of time for the auditor's office to complete the deeds. He noted that this window, or shot clock, had ended before the documents were signed. Leavitt said Hunt personally signed all nine deeds, indicating personal knowledge of the process. He claimed to have corroborated much of the reporting on the state Auditor's own website. Leavitt called the situation a black and white violation of the law and said the legislature has options, including impeachment, if Hunt does not resign.
Any investigation will face procedural hurdles due to Senate Bill 687, a 2024 law. That legislation shifted control of the legislative auditor's office to the Speaker of the House of Delegates and the President of the Senate. Pushkin said the previous legislative auditors were removed by Speaker Hanshaw and President Smith. He said the legislative branch must now perform its oversight role, especially when the person supposed to be auditing is the one needing audit.
The auditor's office has faced scrutiny in recent months beyond these nine deeds. Reports indicate the office is under a federal investigation. The office also hired a sitting state senator as a contractor. Hunt's office has not yet responded to further questions from the legislature regarding the timing of the sales.
The nine properties involved in the dispute are located in various counties across the state. The specific addresses and tax amounts for each parcel are listed in the deeds signed by Hunt. The company owned by Johns is registered in the state's corporate records. The statutory deadline for the two late sales has been verified by state code. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have reviewed the documents. The call for an investigation is now formal. The process to determine the next steps is underway.
