Sep. Jim JusticeRW.Va., agreed Monday to pay more than $5 million in back taxes after the Justice Department sued him. unpaid funds more than 15 years ago.
The lawsuit, filed Monday in the Southern District of West Virginia, says Justice and his wife were contacted by the Treasury Department and notified of the 2009 debt, but they “ignored or refused to make full payment of these dues to the United States.”
The lawsuit demanded that the former billionaire and his wife pay the amount owed and any compensation the court “deems fair and proper.”
A statement released later Monday said the Justice Department and judges reached a settlement and the couple agreed to pay the full amount of the debt. The judge has yet to sign off on the agreement.
Justice's congressional office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday evening.
Bloomberg Law first reported lawsuit
The IRS filed a lien last month. against Justice and his wife for more than $8 million in unpaid taxes dating back to 2009. judge last year ordered the sale of six Justice family companies to pay off outstanding debt.
Justice's family owns the Greenbrier Resort in White Sulfur Springs, West Virginia. narrowly avoided foreclosure last year after the family paid off debts.
Speaking to local media in October, Justice said his companies are “complicated and complex” and that his children are “doing a great job” running them, while alleging debt collection efforts against him are politically motivated. Associated Press reported at the time.
Justice has been a senator since January, when he succeeded Joe Manchin, a Democrat. He served as governor from 2017 to 2025. Before becoming governor, he was known as the heir to the West Virginia coal company Bluestone.
Justice defeated his Democratic opponent by more than 40 percentage points last year, matching President Donald Trump's victory in the state that same year.
