Governor Jim Justice, who is running for the U.S. Senate, spoke publicly for the first time about his recently released financial disclosure report. Despite filing the report 133 days past the deadline, Justice claimed to be transparent and stated that he would not do anything unethical. He acknowledged that the report was prepared by his company’s accountant, Terry Miller, and expressed confidence in its accuracy. The report revealed that Justice and his wife reported a significant amount in salaries and income derived from assets, while also disclosing liabilities in the form of lines of credit, promissory notes, and judgments.
Justice emphasized that he did not receive income from the Greenbrier Hotel, despite having a large line of credit with the company. He also confirmed receiving two promissory notes from a former advisor, Bray Cary, amounting to several million dollars. Justice defended their business relationship and expressed admiration for Cary’s work. Additionally, it was noted that Justice has 111 businesses, with only seven of them being in blind trusts. He praised his children for running the majority of his businesses but faced criticism for the financial issues his companies have encountered in recent years.
Despite ongoing financial setbacks, including a lawsuit seeking to seize his properties, Justice maintained that he refuses to declare bankruptcy and strives to pay his bills. He acknowledged that his financial situation is not perfect but asserted that things are good overall. This public appearance allowed Justice to address some questions about his financial disclosure report, although he was unable to provide specific details.
