Updated Nov 25, 2025 - Politics & Policy

GOP Sen. Jim Justice to pay over $5M in unpaid taxes to settle DOJ suit

Rebecca Falconer

A white-haired Sen. Jim Justice, wearing a navy jacket with a gold pin at the top of his left lapel, white shirt and pink tie, speaks into reporters' phones. — Sen. Jim Justice in Washington, D.C., in June. Photo: Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images

Sen. Jim Justice (R-W.Va.) settled a lawsuit from the federal government over alleged unpaid taxes from the 2009 tax period for $5.16 million soon after it was filed, Bloomberg first reported.

The big picture: The lawsuit against the former West Virginia governor and his wife, Cathy Justice, filed by the Justice Department on behalf of the Internal Revenue Service, alleged that the couple had "neglected or refused to make full payment" in spite of "notice and demand for payment."

Zoom in: The couple will pay $5,164,739.75 "plus statutory interest and other additions to tax accruing thereafter," per the settlement agreement following the suit that was filed in the Southern District of West Virginia.

Representatives for Justice's office did not immediately respond to Axios' Monday evening request for comment.

Background: Justice served as governor of West Virginia from 2017 to 2025, when he entered the U.S. Senate after flipping the seat long held by Sen. Joe Manchin (I-W.Va.).

The one-time wealthiest person in West Virginia handed his vast coal empire off to his son Jay Justice after assuming gubernatorial office.
The family and their companies have faced scrutiny over their business practices in recent years, along with debt and other tax and legal issues.

Editor's note: This article has been updated with further context.

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GOP Sen. Jim Justice to pay over $5M in unpaid taxes to settle DOJ suit

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