FAIRMONT, W.Va. (AP) — U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin is being sued by one of his brothers, who says the West Virginia Democrat and another brother never repaid a $1.7 million loan intended to keep the family’s carpet business afloat.
Dr. John Manchin II filed the lawsuit in Marion County against the senator and Roch Manchin.
The lawsuit, filed Wednesday, says Joe and Roch Manchin received a loan of more than $1.7 million from John Manchin in the late 1980s to help the then-struggling business with the promise of repayment. No payments have been made.
John Manchin says that a July 2012 agreement made by the brothers allowed him to take one-third interest in coal and other related businesses by Joe and Roch Manchin if there was a delay in repayment.
But the lawsuit says the brothers’ general partnership was dissolved without John Manchin’s knowledge, with funds and assets transferred to a partnership controlled by Joe Manchin and his son, Joseph Manchin IV.
The lawsuit seeks unspecified compensation for John Manchin’s losses and the awarding of one-third ownership in all coal reserves and businesses formed through the brothers’ partnership.
Jonathan Kott, a spokesman for the senator, said the lawsuit was a family matter and declined comment Friday. Roch Manchin didn’t immediately return a telephone message left at his carpet business.
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