• When it comes to home prices, two factors make a major difference: size and location.
• GOBankingRates analyzed how much could be bought for $300,000 in different US states.
• Here are the top 11 states they found, led by West Virginia with 2,185 square feet.

US housing prices continue to be high, but two factors make more of a difference than most: a home's size and location.

Where overall costs are higher, home prices are higher, too. And where home prices are lower, buyers can stretch their dollars farther on a larger house.

To get a picture of how this plays out across the US, GOBankingRates analyzed how much home could be had for the same price in different states.

The personal finance website sourced each state's median listing price per square foot from the Federal Reserve and used that figure to calculate the size of a home that could be bought for $300,000.

Here are the top 11 states they found where that budget can get more than 1,700 square feet.

1. West Virginia — 2,185 square feet

West Virginia has the lowest cost of living in the US and was the only state in the GOBankingRate analysis to have a home larger than 2,000 square feet.

While that is a good deal smaller than the modern average newly built home size of 2,500 square feet, it's about as large as homes were back in the 1990s, according to Huts.com.

2. Kansas — 1,894 square feet

Kansas placed second in the rankings, with a low price per square foot of $158 and a relatively low cost of living.

3. Alabama — 1,876 square feet

Alabama and Mississippi ranked right next to one another in the rankings, thanks in part to similar costs of living.

4. Mississippi — 1,855 square feet

Mississippi has a comparatively low median price per square foot of $162.

5. Oklahoma — 1,793 square feet

Oklahoma and its neighbor Arkansas also share several similarities, which result in their placement next to one another in the ranking.

6. Arkansas — 1,781 square feet

With 1,781 square feet, the $300,000 Arkansas home is just about the size that newly built homes were in the 1980's.

7. Iowa — 1,776 square feet

A $300,000 home in Iowa would start to feel snug for the modern family, but it's still quite a bit larger than typical homes were in the 1970s.

8. Indiana — 1,733 square feet

Another pair of neighbors join the list — Indiana and Kentucky, clocking in with remarkably similar prices and living costs.

9. Kentucky — 1,721 square feet

Kentucky's median price per square foot of $174 still offers a fair amount of living space for $300,000.

10. Michigan — 1,706 square feet

Michigan is the northernmost state to make it into the top ten, with a median price per square foot of $176.

11. Missouri — 1,704 square feet

At 1,704 square feet, a household of four would have 426 square feet per person. That's quite cozy by modern standards, but still more spacious than was the norm in the 1960's.

Beyond these top 11, the other 39 US states come in below 1,700 square feet at $300,000, so buyers would likely need to up their budgets to get the same space.

Read the full list at GOBankingRates.

EXCLUSIVE: ‘King Coal’ still reigns as one of the most affordable, reliable and transportable sources of energy – and the U.S. still has a lot of it, West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey told Fox News Digital in an interview at the National Governors Association's winter meeting.

Morrisey acknowledged America's ongoing race with China to be the most powerful nation in terms of both energy development and AI technology. West Virginia, he said Saturday, seeks to lead the way.

"I'm still very hopeful that there's a future for coal," Morrisey said. "Let me explain why: We're right now about to embark on an information technology arms race with China."

MOUNTAIN STATE CRACKDOWN: WV GOV'S ORDER LEADS TO 60 SUSPECTED ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT CRIMINAL DETENTIONS

"And we have to catch up to what they're doing in terms of the Chinese use of coal and many, many different types of fuel sources, because we can't let them get ahead of us as they're building capacity in AI, superintelligence, robotics and advanced manufacturing."

While both nations are likely to rely on advances in nuclear energy and hydraulic fracturing for natural gas, there remain the "resiliency, availability and affordability of coal," he said.

"I think there's an opportunity … to increase the capacity of some of the coal-fired power plants that have been slowed down in recent years. Because if we don't do that, we're not going to compete with the Chinese."

The governor said that one of his top priorities is to bring the Mountain State’s coal infrastructure and industry back to a higher capacity.

"I think that it's sorely needed from a national security perspective."

West Virginia produced 89 million tons of coal in 2021, according to the latest data recorded by the state miners’ office. That figure is down sharply from the 1940s through the late 1990s, when the state averaged upwards of 130 million tons per year.

WV LAWMAKER ARRESTED AFTER THREATENING TO KILL ENTIRE REGION'S DELEGATION OVER CAUCUS BEEF

Wyoming remains tops in U.S. coal production, followed by West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Kentucky and Illinois.

"West Virginia is America's energy state. We're so rich in resources: coal and natural gas and water. And we have a lot of opportunities in front of us," Morrisey went on, adding that he was heartened by the substantive bipartisan discussions at the NGA in regard to speeding up the energy-permitting process at the state and federal levels.

"So when you're thinking about how to take advantage of those opportunities, you think of transmission, you think of permitting," he said, echoing Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro of neighboring energy powerhouse Pennsylvania, who pledged Friday to refund applicants if there are delays or if things go awry.

In terms of the Mountain State’s role in what Morrisey and other governors at the NGA called the "AI arms race" with China, the state is predicted to build on Morrisey's predecessor, now-Sen. Jim Justice’s efforts to grow the state’s tech industry.

"I’ve said over and over that we need to do everything possible to add these kinds of high-tech companies and jobs in West Virginia," Justice said in 2019. "We have so many people in this state who are gifted beyond belief and who will be able to fill these spots and do incredible work. It’s truly a pipeline of talent."

On Saturday, Morrisey also reflected on his group meeting with President Donald Trump, Cabinet secretaries and his fellow governors at the White House.

"They understand that you can't move energy at the speed of slow. And so we're eager to partner with them," he said, adding that Trump pledged to the governors that he would seek to eliminate 10 regulations for every one that his administration adds.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

"I think states like West Virginia and Pennsylvania and many other states have a chance to work closely with the Trump administration. It's going to be a lot easier, because they know how important it is to reassert American energy dominance – if you get the permitting right."

Morrisey also spoke about his response to the Trump administration's crackdown on illegal immigration and the flow of illegal drugs across the southern border.

Last month, Morrisey issued an executive order aimed at illegal immigrants in his state, which led to five dozen people being detained pending immigration status verification in the state's regional jail system.

The governor noted West Virginia's unfortunate spot as the state with the most drug overdose deaths per capita and said that both his and Trump's immigration policies are needed to fix that systemic crisis.

"We're working hand in hand with ice to identify illegal aliens and make sure that they can get deported. And this is really important to do, because, as President Trump said yesterday, when you actually remove a lot of these illegal aliens from the system, you're going to see a reduction in crime."

"It takes states working with the federal government to make sure that we're kind of reasserting our position and stopping all the horrific consequences of what happened with the illegal immigrants coming in. I know in West Virginia we really felt the impact of that through the massive amount of death that flowed from fentanyl flood[ing] in from China [via] the Mexican drug cartels."

Fox News Digital's Sophia Compton contributed to this report.

FIRST ON FOX: In one of his first major moves, newly-elected West Virginia Attorney General J.B. McCuskey is suing New York over the state's new "devastating" law that retroactively charges energy companies billions of dollars for pollution from 2000 to 2018. 

"This bill is an attempt by New York to step into the shoes of the federal government to regulate something that they have absolutely no business regulating, and we are more than happy to step in and tell the rest of the country, along with our incredible other state partners, that this is unconstitutional and it won't stand," McCuskey told Fox News Digital in an interview. 

The lawsuit alleges the law signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul, known as the Climate Change Superfund Act, unfairly targets traditional energy producers—regardless of whether they operate in New York—by imposing massive financial liabilities. 

"These energy choices—and the benefits that come with them—entail necessary tradeoffs. All energy use, including energy deriving from 'renewable' sources, creates some pollution," the 59-page lawsuit reads. "Traditional energy is no different."

HOCHUL SIGNS BILL THAT WILL CHARGE OIL AND GAS FIRMS $75B, BUT CRITICS SAY CUSTOMERS WILL REALLY FOOT THE TAB

According to the complaint, the burden of these costs won’t fall on New York consumers but will instead be forced onto producers and consumers in other states. The suit also alleges that New York is using these funds to subsidize its own infrastructure projects, such as a new sewer system in New York City, that have been damaged by extreme weather events.

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York Albany Division, cites New York AG Letitia James, Sean Mahar, the Interim Commissioner of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and Amanda Hiller, the Acting Tax Commissioner of the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance.

"When you live in the real world, like I do, and you live in a place like West Virginia, where the values of the people indicate that we pay our bills, we're humble, we're modest, and we're respectful of the people around us," McCuskey said. "These kind of things hit us a lot harder. And so, you know, this is really a fight between the the elites and the people that make this country run on the back end."

Attorneys general for Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Utah and Wyoming also joined the lawsuit. The West Virginia Coal Association, the Gas and Oil Association of West Virginia and the Alpha Metallurgical Resources, Inc., are also joining the complaint.

The bill, first introduced under the Biden administration, is a "landmark legislation shifts the cost of climate adaptation from everyday New Yorkers to the fossil fuel companies most responsible for the pollution," according to the governor's December 2024 press release.

TRUMP EXECUTIVE ORDER FORCES NEW JERSEY TO CANCEL ITS FIRST OFFSHORE WIND FARM

"By ensuring those responsible for historic climate-altering emissions bear the costs of the significant health, environmental, and economic impacts already being passed on to New Yorkers, this law will complement the State’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, help communities adapt to the climate-driven impacts experienced today, and leverage the significant investments the Governor is making in climate resilience," Mahar, the state's Environmental Conservation Interim Commissioner said in the press release. 

The law mandates that fossil fuel companies collectively contribute $75 billion over the next 25 years into a dedicated "superfund" that would then help rebuild climate change-induced infrastructure damage. 

"This liability could be devastating to traditional energy producers," the lawsuit states. "Indeed, the ruinous liability that the Act promises—especially when paired with similar efforts that might arise in other States—could force coal, oil, and natural gas producers to shutter altogether."

FORMER TRUMP CABINET MEMBERS LAUNCH GROUP TO PROMOTE PRESIDENT'S ENERGY AGENDA

In total, 38 firms – including American oil giants Exxon and Chevron, the UK's Shell and BP, and Brazil's Petrobras – categorized as "carbon polluters" could be on the receiving end of hefty bills, Fox News Digital previously reported. 

New York’s effort to hold energy producers accountable comes at a time when the Trump administration is moving in the opposite direction, rolling back climate commitments through a recent executive order.

Trump signed two executive orders last month dramatically reshaping U.S. energy and environmental policy from the Biden administration's priorities. The "Unleashing American Energy" order aims to boost domestic fossil fuel production by cutting regulations and expediting permits for oil, gas, and coal projects. Meanwhile, "Putting America First in International Environmental Agreements" withdraws the U.S. from global climate commitments, including the Paris Agreement, and halts funding for international climate initiatives. This is the second time under a Trump presidency that the U.S. has exited the Paris Agreement. 

Fox News Digital has reached out to the New York governor's, attorney general's, and acting tax commissioner's offices as well as the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation for comment. 

West Virginia University became the latest college to shutter its Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) office, as a wave of state and federal leaders urged an end to what critics call a paradigm of reverse-discrimination.

As of Monday, the Morgantown school’s DEI division webpage was still active, advertising an "interactive social justice experience" called the "Tunnel of Awareness" later this month.

It also invited students to take an "Implicit Bias Test," take part in a "Yappy Hour" with therapy dogs, and join WVU Vice President Meshea Poore in discussions on how to "live, learn and work together with care and respect for each other" on campus.

The Mountaineers' DEI office will be replaced with an ADA and Title IX-centric Division of Campus Engagement and Compliance.

MOUNTAIN STATE CRACKDOWN: GOVERNOR'S ORDER LEADS TO NEARLY 60 SUSPECTED ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT CRIMINAL DETENTIONS

The closure of the department came pursuant to GOP Gov. Patrick Morrisey’s executive order declaring DEI practices to be in conflict with the Mountain State and U.S. Constitutions.

"No [entity] under authority of the governor or ... receiving state funds shall utilize ...resources [to DEI positions, activities procedures or mandatory training]," part of the order read. 

The Republican governor’s order preceded President Donald Trump’s similar federal order by a few days, as the latter’s inauguration fell one week later.

Morrisey said the "woke virus" needs to be "eradicated" in schools and that he is "a believer… that God looks at us [and] the rule of law looks at us as equals."

DOGE ANNOUNCES $1B IN SAVINGS AFTER NIXING 104 DEI CONTRACTS

"We don't want special preferences unlawfully benefiting one group of another race, color, age, ethnicity. We have to make sure that we're taking steps to treat everyone the same under the law."

Morrisey thanked WVU for taking the necessary steps to close its DEI office, remarking that too often there is public pressure to "do the wrong thing."

April Kaull, executive director of communications for WVU, said Monday the new office is not a rebranding but a "shift in focus that will align with the governor’s directive."

"The new West Virginia University Division of Campus Engagement and Compliance is positioned to carry out its core mission and to serve all within our university community. It will focus on ensuring the university adheres to federal and state guidance and fulfilling the needs of our campus community, including compliance with Title IX and the Americans with Disabilities Act, which is its primary focus," Kaull said.

In December, another big football school — Michigan — dismantled its DEI apparatus and said it would no longer "solicit diversity statements as part of faculty hiring, promotion and tenure."

The nonaccredited University of Austin in Texas nixed any iteration of DEI in 2024 as well, with an official saying the college will promote freedom of speech and merit-based admissions.

"They talk about safe spaces. We want to create an environment that's safe for ideas to be explored and where there's not risks to the student for taking positions as they explore," UATX Vice President Michael Shires said at the time.  

At least six other states — Alabama, Idaho, Iowa, Indiana, Kansas and Utah — have banned or limited DEI teachings or initiatives within application processes.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Meanwhile, an official for Mount Holyoke College in Northampton, Massachusetts, said she hoped higher education will not capitulate to Trump’s vision in this regard, and that such executive orders are ripe for legal challenge.

"I don’t believe that the value of saying we live in a multiracial democracy is wrong," President Danielle Holley said in part to the AP.

Northeastern University in Boston changed the name of its DEI office to "Belonging in Northeastern" in what it called a "reimagined approach."

In New Brunswick, New Jersey, a professor at Rutgers University had to cancel an upcoming session geared toward internships for students from HBCUs after a contractor informed her federal funding for the conference was put on-hold.

Last week, Missouri State University in Springfield announced an end to its DEI programs — a move administrators said was supported by its Board of Governors.

College President Richard Williams said the school "values diverse thought and actions and support[s] all our students faculty and staff."

But, Williams added that leaders in Jefferson City had outlined new requirements because nearly two-fifths of MSU’s budget is earmarked from state funding.

Fox News Digital’s Jamie Joseph and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced Tuesday that about five dozen people had been detained within a day of ordering cooperation between Charleston and federal immigration authorities.

By midday on Tuesday, 58 people in the Mountain State were detained within the Regional Jail system pending verification of their immigration status. 

More detentions are likely imminent, Morrisey said as he repeatedly pledged his full support for President Donald Trump's illegal immigration crackdown.

Morrisey, a Republican, and only two weeks into his term, promised a further update on his administration’s operations on Thursday, saying West Virginia has good reason to take every step possible to quash the crisis besides the fact these people are allegedly in the country illegally.

WV LAWMAKER ARRESTED AFTER THREATENING TO KILL ENTIRE REGION'S DELEGATION OVER CAUCUS BEEF

West Virginia leads the nation in drug overdose deaths-per-capita, and Morrisey said illegal immigration and cartel smuggling play a key role in that crisis.

"To be clear, our numbers may be lower than others in terms of illegal immigrants… but I’ve repeatedly talked about the impact of having illegal immigrants [who] bring deadly fentanyl into the state — that’s flooding in from Mexico [with] raw ingredients coming from China."

The West Virginia Department of Health & Human Resources recorded 1,389 drug overdose deaths statewide in 2023, down slightly from their peak at 1,537 in 2021. In 2001, there were only 212 such drug-related deaths among its estimated 1.75 million people.

"You’re going to find a Morrisey administration very cooperative with the Trump administration… It’s important for West Virginia because we have to stop this senseless death," the governor said.

TRUMP, GOP CELEBRATE JOE MANCHIN RETIREMENT

Morrisey praised Trump and said what the White House is doing is "absolutely correct."

"We will take all appropriate steps to protect our citizens and work with the Trump Administration to crack down on illegal immigration," Morrisey said in a separate statement to Fox News Digital.

The move received praise from other state officials.

State Del. Wayne Clark, R-Charles Town, called it "good progress" on both the illegal immigration front and the quest to curb the state’s drug crisis.

Huntington Police Chief Phil Watkins said some of his officers also provided support to recent ICE operations in what is West Virginia’s second-largest city.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

"As a general practice, we always try to accommodate requests for assistance from any of our law enforcement partners," he told Wheeling’s CBS affiliate.

The Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation confirmed in a statement that it is detaining suspected illegal immigrant criminals in its facilities at the urging of federal agencies such as ICE and the FBI.

Following President Biden's move to commute the sentences of 37 prisoners on federal death row, Sen. Joe Manchin, I-W.Va., called the clemency granted to two of the individuals "horribly misguided and insulting."

In the 37 cases, Biden commuted the sentences to life sentences without the potential for parole.

Manchin — a Democrat-turned-independent senator who will soon leave office — said he felt a responsibility to speak out on behalf of the parents of Samantha Burns, who was slain in 2002 at the age of 19, according to reports. 

TRUMP PLEDGES TO BRING BACK FEDERAL EXECUTIONS AFTER BIDEN COMMUTES DEATH SENTENCES FOR 37 INMATES

"After speaking to Samantha Burns’ parents, I believe it is my duty to speak on their behalf and say President Biden’s decision to commute the death sentences for the two men convicted in her brutal murder is horribly misguided and insulting," the lawmaker declared in a statement posted on X.

"Particularly since Samantha’s family wrote letters to President Biden & the Department of Justice, pleading for them not to do this, but their concerns were unheard. I can’t imagine the grief that Kandi and John Burns are reliving and dealing with during the holiday season," Manchin continued. "As their U.S. Senator and a father, I want to express my deepest sympathy for their continued suffering. Please know that Samantha will forever be in our prayers."

The two men connected with the young woman's death escaped lockup and went on a crime spree in 2002, according to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

"On November 4, 2002, cellmates Chadrick Fulks and Brandon Basham escaped from a county detention facility in Kentucky" and "unleashed a criminal rampage that lasted seventeen days and zigzagged across several states," according to the court, which noted that the men "admitted to killing Burns and pleaded guilty to carjacking resulting in death in the Southern District of West Virginia."

TRUMP HAS CHRISTMAS MESSAGE TO ‘RADICAL LEFT LUNATICS,’ TELLS INMATES BIDEN GRANTED CLEMENCY TO ‘GO TO HELL!’

In a fiery Christmas Day post on Truth Social, President-elect Trump told the 37 individuals who escaped capital punishment to "GO TO HELL!" 

In a statement about the commutations, President Biden said, "I condemn these murderers, grieve for the victims of their despicable acts, and ache for all the families who have suffered unimaginable and irreparable loss." 

OUTGOING SEN. JOE MANCHIN PUSHES CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT FOR SUPREME COURT TERM LIMITS

But he also said that he was "more convinced than ever that we must stop the use of the death penalty at the federal level."

"These commutations are consistent with the moratorium my Administration has imposed on federal executions, in cases other than terrorism and hate-motivated mass murder," Biden said.

West Virginia Republican Gov. Jim Justice announced that he would delay his U.S. Senate swearing-in, thereby preventing a whirlwind of four governors in a 10-day period due to coinciding changes in Charleston's legislative leadership.

In doing so, it leaves federal Republicans' Senate majority briefly at two instead of three seats. Justice alluded to such in remarks late Thursday, saying he wants to do what’s best for Mountaineers.

"My whole thinking behind all of this is that the continuity of government is essential during transitions. . . . When I took this job, I took this job to serve the people of West Virginia."

Justice said he doesn’t expect much to happen between Jan. 3 – when Congress is sworn in – and Jan. 20 – when President-elect Donald Trump is inaugurated, but that in Charleston, many things might transpire.

WV LAWMAKER ARRESTED AFTER THREATENING TO KILL ENTIRE REGION'S DELEGATION OVER CAUCUS BEEF

West Virginia is one of seven states that does not have an independently-appointed or elected lieutenant governor. In Charleston, it is instead a statutory title given to the state Senate leader.

So, if Justice were to join the U.S. Senate on-schedule, current state Senate President Craig Blair would initially assume the role. 

However, Blair lost the GOP primary for his Martinsburg seat in April, and therefore leaves office on Jan. 8 when the new legislature is sworn in.

On Jan. 8, the newly-selected leader, Sen. Randy Smith from Tucker County, would assume the governorship until Gov.-elect Patrick Morrisey took office on Jan. 13.

"Between January 3rd and when President Trump takes office, there'll be some things that happen, but there won't be anything happening [in the U.S. Congress] really until when President Trump takes office," Justice said Thursday.

"I'm in constant contact with President Trump about my feelings about his selections for his appointments, my feelings about where we're going to go on all kinds of issues like energy and on and on and on and everything," he added. 

TRUMP, GOP CELEBRATE JOE MANCHIN RETIREMENT

"So, I don't think that there's anything there that is going to rise to the level of what could happen here [in my absence]."

Republicans also flipped the Senate by a comfortable-enough 53-47 margin that Justice’s absence will still allow a two-member buffer.

"I don't think that West Virginia needs to have four governors in 10 days," he said.

Justice said Thursday he made the decision after speaking about the situation with both the House Speaker and Senate Majority Leader-designate.

"Senator Thune is really a good man. He's going to do a great job as our leader and everything. And we had this discussion, and at the end of the day, I think you'll find that everyone totally understands the complexities and everything and totally understands [my decision]," Justice said.

Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.V., Justice’s counterpart next session, said she looks forward to serving with him and working together to advance Trump’s agenda.

"I very much respect Governor Justice’s decision to honor his commitment to complete his term as Governor of the State of West Virginia," she said in a statement.

"I believe this with all my soul," Justice further told reporters. "The people of West Virginia elected me to this office, and they expected me to do right by them always . . . t has been an honor beyond belief being their governor."

A billionaire coal businessman who also owns The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, Justice was originally elected as a Democrat but changed parties during a 2017 rally with Trump in his first term in Charleston – and was re-elected as a Republican.

Justice’s turn to the GOP and the retirement of Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.V., completes a full shift from the blue state that for decades elected Sen. Robert Byrd and Rep. Nick Joe Rahall to a deep-red state that Democratic presidential candidates since Hillary Clinton have lost by double-digits.

Bearing the wait until Jan. 13, Justice reiterated, will be worth it because he loves Trump "with all my soul."

"I think the world of his family and everything. And I'm going to be there [and] super supportive of what he's doing. And we're going to try in every way to . . . put this nation back on the right track."

"The people of West Virginia will know exactly where I stand with them."

West Virginia Democrats torched President Biden’s choices of last-minute executive clemency recipients, saying they would expect such actions from their rival, President-elect Trump.

In a statement released late Monday, local party leaders said they applauded Biden for leading the U.S. "through significant economic challenges" but blasted commutations being given to people convicted of public corruption.

"Public corruption is a betrayal of trust. When officials abuse the power of their office for personal gain, they not only harm the communities they are supposed to serve, but they also erode faith in our government institutions," wrote Chairman Mike Pushkin, a state lawmaker from Kanawha County.

"Even more troubling, these kinds of pardons are exactly what we would expect from President-elect Donald Trump, not President Biden."

WV LAWMAKER ARRESTED AFTER THREATENING TO KILL ENTIRE REGION'S DELEGATION OVER CAUCUS BEEF

In a statement for the state party, Pushkin criticized Trump’s first-term pardons of former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, Gen. Michael Flynn, political strategist Stephen K. Bannon and ex-Rep. Rick Renzi, R-Ariz.

"By following this same path, President Biden has legitimized the idea that public officials who violate their oaths of office are above the law," Pushkin said.

"Worse still, it will embolden Trump to issue even more pardons for political corruption if he returns to the White House."

Pushkin and other Democrats were particularly critical of Biden’s decision to pardon disgraced Pennsylvania Judge Michael Conahan, the key figure in the "kids-for-cash" scandal.

Conahan was convicted of receiving kickbacks for sentencing young people to for-profit prisons.

Delegate Hollis Lewis, D-Charleston, told Fox News Digital that he, too, took issue with Biden’s decision to give Conahan clemency.

"The one that got me upset was the judge who was involved in the cash-for-kids case," he said.

"Any time that you have individuals who prey on our most vulnerable population, which are children and the elderly, that's very problematic."

DOZENS OF STATES LOBBY EPA TO DENY CALIFORNIA WAIVER FORCING OUT OF STATE TRUCKS TO COMPLY WITH MANDATE

Lewis said presidents of both parties have made questionable clemency choices, adding that a pardon is an important tool that has its place.

"I don't think anybody needs to walk around with a scarlet letter of a felony for the whole lot, depending on the particular crime that they committed; if that pardon is going to allow them to move on with their lives," he said.

"But specifically when it's crimes involving the elderly… and children or crimes with patterns of violence where the evidence is clear and there's no reasonable doubt, then maybe we ought to think twice before we exonerate those individuals."

In its statement, the West Virginia Democratic Party also criticized Biden’s clemency for ex-Dixon, Illinois Comptroller Rita Crundwell, who was punished for embezzling $54 million in the largest municipal fraud case in the country.

The third case mentioned involved Jimmy Dimora, a former county commissioner in Cleveland involved in a pay-to-play scheme.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Fox News Digital reached out to West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, who is now an independent, but still caucuses with Democrats.

West Virginia previously found itself in the news during presidential pardon season, when former President Clinton issued his widely-rebuked pardon of then-fugitive financier Marc Rich.

Rich had been accused of tax evasion and circumventing sanctions on Iran and apartheid South Africa.

However, Rich also had a stake in an aluminum manufacturer on the Ohio River when it was accused of locking out 1,500 workers and hiring scabs amid allegations such a move was illegal because the plant allegedly conducted a lockout.

Members of the West Virginia union reportedly picketed in Switzerland in front of Rich’s office. 

Clinton’s pardons of Rich and business partner Pincus Green earned him a federal investigation initially led by New York prosecutor Mary Jo White. 

When White’s tenure ended in 2002, she was replaced by a young federal prosecutor whose name would resurface in another Clinton controversy many years later: James Comey.

A West Virginia state delegate-elect was arrested Thursday after allegedly threatening to kill multiple lawmakers, reportedly after being informed he might be dropped from his GOP caucus position.

Del-elect Joseph de Soto, a medical doctor from Gerrardstown – about 100 miles west of Washington, D.C. – allegedly threatened several other delegates, including the Speaker of the House, on Tuesday, reportedly expressing outrage over being told to step down.

De Soto was listed in state jail records for Berkeley County as having been booked as a "pretrial felon" for making terroristic threats. 

Fox News Digital has learned that De Soto was advised of a vote removing him from a position for "undisclosed reasons," and that "he was upset" after hearing the news. 

DOZENS OF STATES LOBBY EPA TO DENY CALIFORNIA WAIVER FORCING OUT OF STATE TRUCKS TO COMPLY WITH MANDATE

De Soto was reportedly being probed for potentially misrepresenting his medical and military information while running for office, and was subjected to a vote of expulsion from the GOP caucus, according to Huntington's CBS affiliate.

De Soto had threatened to kill several fellow Eastern Panhandle lawmakers as well as House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, R-Clay.

"I am focused on four people who are evil … not angry, but at peace what I need to do," De Soto said, according to the criminal complaint. When an individual tried to stop de Soto from threatening people, his response was "I did say I am going to kill people. I said I am going (sic) what is necessary to put them (sic) from office."

De Soto said he had a vision from the Mormon Angel of Moroni to "destroy" Wayne Clark, R-Charles Town, and Dels. Michael Hite, Joe Funkhouser and Charles Horst, all R-Martinsburg. He also claimed to have been told by God to kill another lawmaker from Weirton.

"They play stupid games, they are getting stupid awards," de Soto wrote in an email to a person who complained to police, according to a law enforcement report obtained by Fox News Digital. 

"I am upset only with the Eastern Panhandle delegates. I have only begun... and won't stop," he said in an email to another individual according to the complaint, which ends with: "they can all go to Hell. I will send them there as commanded,"

In an interview Friday, one such delegate – Clark – said he received a call early in his five-hour commute home from Charleston to Charles Town that his family should relocate immediately due to a threat.

TRUMP, GOP CELEBRATE JOE MANCHIN RETIREMENT

"I was driving straight into a snowstorm. So, I didn't get to meet up with my family until almost 7 p.m., and I got the call at 3 p.m.," Clark said.

Clark praised the Charles Town Police Department and the Jefferson and Berkeley County sheriff’s offices for acting quickly to secure his family. He also said he hopes de Soto gets personal help.

"He obviously needs some sort of help because of some things that happened in his life prior. I don't know," he said.

The lawmaker said he understands that running for office means your identity and votes and comments are out in the public, but maintained that one’s family should never be.

"Having someone make threats that are now affecting my family, I don't know if you ever had that call: ‘Hey, Wayne. Get your family in a safe place’. Whoa. Okay. That's a tough one to deal with."

De Soto had been elected as a Republican in the 91st District, which includes the suburbs of Martinsburg. However, he reportedly filed to change his affiliation to Democratic just before his arrest.

That change could set up a partisan or legal fight as to how he is replaced, as West Virginia provides that if a delegate vacancy exists, the outgoing lawmaker's party’s county committee "shall appoint a member of the party" to the seat. The West Virginia State House is currently 89-11 Republican.

De Soto had reportedly been recently investigated for allegedly falsifying information about his medical career, which led to Republicans' concerns, according to Huntington's CBS affiliate.

West Virginia Democratic Party chair Del. Mike Pushkin said the party's thoughts are with the affected delegates and their families.

"No one—especially those working in public service—should ever have to fear for their safety or the safety of their loved ones," Pushkin, of Kanawha, said in a statement. "These allegations are deeply serious and should be treated with the full weight of the law."

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

In a statement, WVGOP Chairman Matt Herridge said the party is aware of the allegations and facts of the case, "as well as the steps the House GOP Caucus has taken toward [de Soto's] expulsion."

"Our elected officials sacrifice a lot to serve their communities, and it is a travesty for anyone to face the additional burden of threats made against themselves and their families. The West Virginia Republican Party supports our House leadership and their expulsion efforts."

"We disavow and condemn the behavior of the former Republican Delegate-elect and continue to thank all those who are willing to serve their communities and state, in spite of the serious challenges it too often poses."

Fox News Digital reached out to the West Virginia State Police for additional comment on de Soto’s arrest.

A call to a number listed for de Soto was not returned.

Departing Sen. Joe Manchin, I-W.V., focused on unity in an emotional farewell address to his colleagues in the Senate, marking the final floor speech of his 14-year term after not seeking re-election this cycle. 

"My friends and colleagues, today I rise with a full heart and an overwhelming sense of gratitude. It's been the honor of my life to represent my great state of West Virginia in this great country of ours," Manchin opened his final remarks on Tuesday. "Now, as my time here comes to an end. I want you to know that my belief in the potential of this institution, and each and every one of you that represent it, remains as strong as ever."

In his speech, Manchin urged his colleagues to put their differences aside and work together in an effort to bridge political differences.

The senator revealed that it "wasn't exactly my plan to join the Senate" at first, but that he "saw an opportunity to serve more people and tackle bigger challenges."

SENATE DEMOCRATS NAME TOP LEADERSHIP POSITIONS AFTER LOSING CHAMBER MAJORITY

Manchin, focusing on the theme of unity, recalled being asked to help recruit Democratic candidates to run against Republicans when he first entered the Senate, but vowing not to work against his colleagues.

"It didn't take long for me to see that the divisions here run pretty deep," he said. "I'm not going to raise money to attack my friends and colleagues just because they have an ‘R’ by their name. How do we expect to work together if I'm working against them when they're in cycle?"

KYRSTEN SINEMA RESPONDS TO DEMOCRATS ADMITTING FILIBUSTER WILL HELP THEM STOP TRUMP AGENDA: ‘SCHADENFREUDE

In his final speech, Manchin took the opportunity to highlight accomplishments in his state of West Virginia such as on energy, infrastructure, and job growth.

While Manchin is widely known for his memorable work in the senate, his career in West Virginia politics dates back decades.

Manchin served as a state delegate in the early 1980s, before being elected as a state senator until the late 90s. Manchin served as Secretary of State for four years, and then was elected as governor of West Virginia in 2005. 

Manchin was eventually elected to his longest held post of Democratic senator for West Virginia in 2010. Known for his moderate approach and bipartisan work on national issues, the senator left the Democratic Party to register as an independent in May 2024, but continued to caucus with Democrats in the months following his departure from the party. 

Manchin ended his speech urging his colleagues to fix inflation and the southern border crisis, emphasizing that "when each side could take a little step to find common ground, powerful things happen."

"I'm not going anywhere, gang," Manchin said, appearing to tear up as he thanked his staff and family for their support over the years.

Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., commended Manchin's service in the senate ahead of his farewell address.

"It fills me with great pleasure, and a little sadness, to say a few words here in his honor," Schumer said. "So today, I wish to pay tribute to a very dear friend, one of my closest friends in the Senate – even when we disagreed we stayed friendly and stayed good friends – and of course a longtime colleague: Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia."