A West Virginia lawmaker who was charged with making terroristic threats wasn't permitted to take the oath of office required to serve in the Legislature.

House Republicans on Wednesday voted to vacate the seat of Joseph de Soto, a delegate-elect accused last month of threatening to harm and kill lawmakers. The decision will face a legal challenge from the state Democratic Party,

Gov.-elect Patrick Morrisey will have the opportunity to appoint someone to this newly vacant seat after he is inaugurated next week.

In one of the most chaotic developments in a state legislature in months, the West Virginia House of Delegates has vacated a seat of a newly-elected Republican state legislator — and due to a bizarre series of events,