CHARLESTON, WEST VIRGINIA — Sen. Jim Justice will pay more than $5 million in back taxes after the Department of Justice filed suit alleging that he and his wife, Cathy Justice, failed to pay longstanding federal tax debts dating back to 2009. The lawsuit, filed Monday in the Southern District of West Virginia, states that the couple owes $5.16 million in unpaid income taxes, penalties, and interest.
Court documents say Justice was repeatedly contacted by the Treasury Department over the years but “neglected or refused” to make full payment. The filing notes that as of August 4, 2025, the couple owed $5,164,739.75, with additional statutory fees continuing to accrue. The DOJ lawsuit formally sought a judgment against the couple to recover the outstanding amount.
Justice, a former two-term governor of West Virginia and heir to the Bluestone coal mining enterprise, has faced mounting financial challenges in recent years. Although once considered a billionaire, he has been tied to numerous debts, including reported liabilities nearing $1 billion. His luxury resort, the Greenbrier, has also faced financial strain, with reports indicating he narrowly avoided losing it to creditors.
Shortly after the lawsuit became public, Justice agreed to pay the full amount, according to NBC News. Justice succeeded Democrat Joe Manchin in the U.S. Senate following the 2024 election.
The Washington Examiner reports that federal officials will now move forward with closing the case once payment is finalized.
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