CHARLESTON, W.Va. - A West Virginia judge dropped charges Monday against a state lawmaker who became violent over a racist display at the Capitol. Mike Caputo had argued that an obscure law on “legislative immunity” shielded him from a misdemeanour battery charge for kicking a door into a statehouse staffer and pushing another politician with his elbow. Kanawha Circuit Judge Tod Kaufman sided with Caputo, ruling that the delegate’s actions fell within the legislative immunity law, news outlets reported. Caputo’s actions drew criticism at the time and he was later stripped of his committee assignments for the outburst. Caputo, who has served more than two decades in the House, is running for state Senate this year.

Source: thestar January 27, 2020 23:15 UTC