WVA Radio: State Senator Challenges Radio Attack Ad

Chris Walters

A lawyer for West Virginia Sen. Chris Walters, R-Putnam, sent a “cease and desist” letter to Charleston area radio stations Monday, demanding that they stop airing a political attack ad that falsely insinuates Walters testified on behalf of a convicted child molester.

“This is character assassination,” Walters said.

A union-funded group called West Virginia Family Values paid for the attack ad.

According to The Clareston Gazette-Mail, Walters’ senate colleague, Senate Majority Leader Mitch Carmichael, testified three years ago for a convicted sex offender in Jackson County. The radio ad mentions “their leader in the senate,” but doesn’t make clear it’s referring to Carmichael — not Walters, who had nothing to do with the case.

“The ad is disgusting,” said Walters at a news conference in Charleston on Monday. “The whole purpose of this ad is to mislead the voters. It’s gross and barbaric what’s being done.”

West Virginia Family Values is supporting Democrat Glenn Jeffries, Walters’ opponent in the general election. The labor group’s spokeswoman, Lou Ann Johnson, said Monday the organization stands by the ad.

Jeffries said he had nothing to do with the ad that skewers Walters.

The ad repeatedly criticizes Walters’ legislative record before the narrator states, “and their leader in the senate, he testified in court on behalf of a convicted child molester, called this sexual predator ‘trustworthy.’ ”

The ad doesn’t mention Carmichael by name. Walters said the attack ad makes it sound as if he had testified for the Jackson County felon.

Walters said he sent his letter to West Virginia Radio Corp., Bristol Broadcasting Co. and L&M Broadcasting Inc., the companies that own the Charleston area radio stations.