House Speaker asks Morrisey for special session to vote on expelling Pritt

According to a criminal complaint, the family of a 15-year-old female reported that the child had been sexually abused by Pritt. 

Pritt, a public-school teacher, communicated with the girl online through Robolox and Snapchat before asking her to meet him in his classroom at Oak Hill High School to engage in sexual activity, which occurred on five to 10 occasions, according to the complaint.

Pritt asked that the girl not tell anyone what had happened between them, according to the complaint. The investigation found that he told her in a message, “It would be in the news. It would be awful. For both of us. I would lose my entire life.�

He has not yet resigned from the House representing the 50th district.

Hanshaw, R-Clay, and the state West Virginia Republican Party have already called on Pritt to resign from his seat. Many Republican and Democratic House members have also called for his resignation. 

“Pursuant to Article 6, Section 19 of the Constitution of the State of West Virginia, the undersigned members, constituting the required three fifths of the membership of the West Virginia House of Delegates, request that you call the House of Delegates into an extraordinary session on Monday, Aug. 10, 2026, for the limited purpose of considering and acting upon a resolution to expel Delegate D. Elliott Pritt from membership in the West Virginia House of Delegates,� Hanshaw wrote in a letter to Morrisey.

A lengthy list of Republican House members signed onto the letter in support of the special session. 

The Legislature has to be in session in order to vote on any official punishment of Pritt.

Lawmakers are already expected to be in ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä on Aug. 10 for legislative interim meetings.

Morrisey, Dems reaction to special session request

In a statement from Morrisey's office Friday afternoon, Morrisey said he "takes these allegations extremely seriously. If the charges are proven, the conduct described is reprehensible, and anyone who exploits a child should face the full weight of the law.

"The conduct described disqualifies anyone from public office. If these charges are not refuted right away, this delegate should be immediately removed from his position and stripped of any benefits earned from his service in the house.

"We will be discussing the best way to proceed in the coming days."

If Morrisey does not call a special session, he would have to approve a special session requested by three-fifths majority vote in both chambers.

The Senate Democrats on Friday afternoon put out their own request for a special session “as soon as possible.�

“Although legislators are scheduled to be in ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä for interim meetings beginning Aug. 9, the weight of the allegations against Delegate Pritt and the resulting impropriety of his continued status as a member of the Legislature necessitates a swift response,â€� Senate Democratic members wrote in a letter. "The full House should have the opportunity to follow suit and take up a resolution to expel Del. Pritt without delay."

Delegate Evan Worrell, a member of House leadership, yesterday also requested a special session to consider action against Pritt, including expulsion, if he does not resign. 

Hanshaw has removed Pritt from any official duties in the House, including his role as assistant majority leader.

Pritt was first elected as a Democrat to the House in 2022. He switched to the Republican party in 2023.

Pritt also has not removed himself as a candidate on the ballot for the November election in his district. 

State Schools Superintendent Michele Blatt suspended Pritt’s teacher certification as a result of the charge brought against him. Blatt said that if Pritt is ultimately convicted or pleads guilty to these charges, the state superintendent will permanently revoke his certification.