McCuskey pushes back on Auditor Hunt’s claim; WV Democratic Party calls for immediate investigation

JB McCuskey, former state auditor, said he “won’t sit idly by” and allow current Auditor Mark Hunt, under scrutiny for his actions, to disparage employees in the state’s land division. 

A West Virginia Watch investigation published Sunday found that Hunt, elected in 2024, personally signed nine tax deeds for a friend between March and June 2025.

State law governing the sale of delinquent tax properties, meaning properties lost because the owner didn’t pay their taxes, states that the deputy land commissioner — not the auditor — is supposed to sign those deeds. 

Hunt defended his signature on the documents, saying that the state auditor’s land division was in disarray when he stepped into the role of auditor in 2025. The situation prompted Hunt to take on delinquent tax property deeds to get things in order, he explained. 

“The Land Division of the West Virginia State Auditor’s Office has some of the hardest working public servants in the state,” said McCuskey on Monday. He now serves as state Attorney General. 

“They are dedicated, intelligent and, above all, ethical. They manage an intricate system with many requirements and deadlines. They’re true professionals, and I will not sit idly by and allow the current auditor to disparage them. Claims that the land division was left in disarray do not match the facts of eight years of positive reform and success,” he wrote in a statement. 

On Monday, West Virginia Democratic Party Chair Mike Pushkin called for an independent investigation  into Hunt’s activities.

“The State Auditor’s Office handles approximately 17,000 property deeds a year. Mark Hunt personally signed nine of them, and every single one benefited a company connected to his longtime friend and employee, whose wife also contributed to his political campaigns,” said Pushkin in a news release. “ … That raises an obvious question: Why did Mark Hunt single out these nine deeds for his personal attention?” 

Pushkin said the allegations demand action from Gov. Patrick Morrisey.

“Has Gov. Morrisey directed anyone in his administration to examine these allegations? Has he requested an independent investigation? If not, why not? Does his commitment to rooting out government corruption end when the questions involve a fellow Republican?” Pushkin questioned. 

The nine deeds signed by Hunt went to MAPA LLC, a landholding company incorporated under Patricia Johns, the wife of Robert Johns.

Robert Johns has amassed a large holding of land in West Virginia.

He is also a friend of Hunt’s.

Hunt confirmed that Robert Johns is an employee of the state Auditor’s Office, working as a consultant on land issues and dealing with county’s debts.

“The deputy commissioner works under and through me and through my authority,” Hunt told West Virginia Watch last week. “It would be foolish to think that the commissioner’s boss couldn’t sign the same deed, or any other matter in the office … I can sign whatever I need to sign to make the office work.” 

Hunt also pointed to a different piece of state code to support the practice he said he only did for Robert  Johns.

Pushkin called for an independent review of Hunt’s handling of delinquent property tax transactions, his office’s relationships with private purchasers of tax-delinquent property, and any potential conflicts of interest involving employees, contractors and political contributors.

On social media, Del. Tristan Leavitt, R-Kanawha, said that Hunt “ignored state code to provide a significant financial benefit to his associate.”

“That is a clear violation of the law. Based on this evidence alone, Mark Hunt should resign immediately,” Leavitt posted Sunday on X.

In late October, Brad McElhinny of WV MetroNews reported that the Auditor’s Office was served a federal grand jury subpoena. Hunt said no one has talked to him about the federal probe and provided no further comment. 

Hunt previously served in the state Senate from 2022 to 2024.