Politics

Sen. Jim Justice and West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey Exchange Jabs Over Greenbrier Sale

Posted on: August 27, 2026, 08:05h.

Last updated on: August 27, 2026, 08:11h.

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Devin O'Connor Devin O'Connor is a senior reporter for Casino.org, covering politics, casino business, and gaming news. Devin came on board with Casino.org in 2014...
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Key Points

West Virginia regulators approved Kennedy Lewis Investment Management as the controlling owner of The Greenbrier
Gov. Patrick Morrisey praised the deal for bringing financial stability, prompting a sharp response from Sen. Jim Justice, who defended his family’s role in saving the resort
The deal will pay off more than $300 million owed to Omni Hotels, settle outstanding taxes, and provide funds for repairs and maintenance

US Sen. Jim Justice (R-WV) and West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey (R) may share a political party, but a friendship they do not. The two rivals have only grown further apart over the sale of The Greenbrier and its Casino Club.

Jim Justice Greenbrier West Virginia — US Sen. Jim Justice talks on the phone inside the United States Capitol subway system on April 22, 2026, in Washington, DC. Justice recently sold a majority stake in The Greenbrier, the luxury resort in West Virginia that his family has owned since 2009. (Image: Getty)

On Wednesday, the West Virginia Lottery Commission unanimously approved New York-based Kennedy Lewis Investment Management (KLIM) as the controlling owner of The Greenbrier. The institutional alternative investment firm recently completed its 51% acquisition of the historic resort in White Sulphur Springs from the Justice family for $500 million. The Justice family retains 49% ownership in “America’s Resort.”

The Lottery Commission’s approval means The Greenbrier’s Casino Club will remain. The gaming regulator said it found the three KLIM designees who will control The Greenbrier’s new parent company, Greenbrier Holdco, LLC, suitable to operate a state-issued gaming license.

“Our staff looked at this and spent a lot of time on this. It was a huge transaction. It was a lot of paperwork. It was a lot of information. The Greenbrier is a crown jewel of our state. The main thing is that they (KLIM) bring stability and financial integrity to The Greenbrier,” said acting Lottery Director David Bradley.

The two other seats on the Greenbrier Holdco board will be held by Justice family appointees. Dr. Jill Justice, the senator’s daughter, will occupy one seat, while the other has yet to be determined.

Political Heavyweights Exchange Blows

The Justice family rescued The Greenbrier in bankruptcy in 2009. Using the family’s coal mining wealth, the Justice family turned around the resort, saving thousands of jobs and keeping the state’s crown jewel shining.

However, over the years, critics of the Justice family have alleged that The Greenbrier has not been properly maintained, with needed investments deferred and resort funds transferred or loaned to other companies owned by the Justices. Morrisey, who succeeded Justice as governor last year, and immediately blamed Justice for not properly managing the state’s finances, is glad Justice is no longer in control of The Greenbrier.

I am hopeful that the new controlling owner will bring much needed financial stability to the iconic Greenbrier. While The Greenbrier remains under the Lottery Commission’s financial watch, our administration will continue its monitoring of the casino and remain vigilant in our ongoing efforts to protect West Virginia jobs,” Morrisey said.

Justice immediately fired back.

Patrick seems awfully eager to take shots at people who actually take risks, build businesses, and create jobs in West Virginia. I’ve spent my life doing exactly that — signing the front of paychecks for thousands of West Virginians, not just collecting one. My family saved The Greenbrier, invested hundreds of millions of dollars in West Virginia, and helped put thousands of people to work. Now the resort has a strong new partner and a bright future. Patrick can keep playing politics. We’ll keep building,” Justice said.

Justice’s post on X was viewed 125.4K times and liked by 235 users as of this morning (Aug. 27). Morrisey’s tweet was viewed by fewer than 5K people and had only 25 likes.

Morrisey didn’t allow the bickering to end there.

“I wish you the best, but you can’t blame me or anyone else for your financial mismanagement in losing The Greenbrier. I hope you’ll join the Greenbrier’s new leadership and me in keeping jobs in West Virginia while restoring the resort to its former glory,” the governor said in response to Justice’s post.

$500M Details

KLIM’s investment in The Greenbrier allows the resort to pay off Omni Hotels, which bought a $289.5 million debt on the resort and sought to use the liability to force the property into receivership after the loan went unpaid after maturing on April 1, 2026. The exact payoff after accrued interest hasn’t been made public, though it’s said to be upwards of $300 million.

The KLIM money will also be used to pay outstanding federal, state, and county taxes. The remaining funds will be allocated for resort repairs and maintenance.