A key West Virginia state legislative committee chair was removed from his position by chamber leadership on Wednesday following charges of indecent exposure and disorderly conduct.
Republican Sen. Mike Maroney, the leader of the state Senate Health and Human Resources Committee, was taken into custody on Tuesday for two misdemeanors following an incident that occurred on August 4th at Gumby’s Cigarette & Beer World in Glen Dale.
According to Marshall County Prosecuting Attorney Joe Canestraro, employees on surveillance video reportedly witnessed Maroney engaging in an inappropriate act around 1 p.m. in the establishment’s video lottery room. According to Canestraro, Maroney was the sole individual present in the room during that time.
The employees of Gumby’s promptly contacted the Glen Dale Police Department.
Maroney, a state senator since 2016, did not respond to an email request for comment on Wednesday.
Senate President Craig Blair, a Republican, announced that Maroney will be relieved of his position as Health and Human Resources chair and all other committee responsibilities. This decision was made to allow him sufficient time to focus on his personal matters.
Blair expressed his deep concern for Maroney’s well-being, emphasizing their friendship.
“The facts that have emerged are troubling, and I am disappointed,” Blair said, adding later: “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.”
Maroney, 56, is nearing the end of his second four-year term as a state senator. Despite his bid for reelection, he faced defeat in the May primary at the hands of Chris Rose, a formidable challenger who is an electrician for a utility company and a former coal miner.
Maroney experienced a setback when he voiced his opposition to a bill supported by the Republican caucus. The bill aimed to grant certain students who do not attend traditional public institutions or participate in group extracurricular activities, such as sports, an exemption from mandatory vaccinations for children entering day care or school.
West Virginia is among the few states in the U.S. that exclusively provides medical exemptions for vaccine requirements. Maroney, a radiologist from Marshall County, expressed his strong disapproval of the bill during his speech on the Senate floor, stating that he believed lawmakers were causing harm to the state.
During the debate surrounding this year’s vaccine bill, which was ultimately vetoed by Republican Gov. Jim Justice, Maroney emphasized his commitment to doing no harm, citing the oath he took. I cannot support this bill under any circumstances.
Last year, Maroney faced criticism from certain Republicans for expressing his opposition to a complete ban on medical interventions for transgender adolescents, including puberty blockers and hormone therapy. During one meeting of his committee, he expressed his concern about the potential consequences of passing laws that would prohibit proven medical treatments, emphasizing the importance of informed decision-making.
Maroney compared the prohibition of hormone therapy to the restriction on using medication for mental health conditions and cancer treatment.
If Maroney is convicted of disorderly conduct, they may be subject to a potential punishment of 24 hours in jail, a fine of up to $100, or both. If convicted of indecent exposure, he may be subject to a maximum sentence of one year in jail, a fine of $500, or both.