by Ron Gregory
ronjgregory@gmail.com
CHARLESTON — Despite earlier speculation that former House Speaker Tim Miley would assume the role of general counsel to new Governor Jim Justice, reliable sources today confirmed that former Logan Prosecutor Brian Abraham, 46, will actually be named to the post.
“Things couldn’t be worked out with Tim,” said one administration source. “Brian will do an excellent job for the Governor.”
Abraham is a member of the politically well-connected Abraham family. A Logan source said the Abrahams supported Booth Goodwin in the recent Democrat primary against Justice. “I’m sure they came across and supported Jim in the general,” the source said. Justice handily defeated former U.S. Attorney Goodwin and ex-Senate President Jeff Kessler in the May 2016 primary.
Since leaving his position as Logan Prosecutor, Abraham has been counsel in the Abraham & Ilderton law office in Logan. According to the Bar Association, Abraham has practiced law for 21 years. He received his law degree in 1996 from West Virginia University’s College of Law.
During his tenure as Prosecutor, Abraham processed a number of high profile cases. He was Prosecutor in 2007 when a black woman told investigators she had been beaten, raped and forced to eat animal feces at a remote Logan County location.
Eventually, it became clear that the woman had misled investigators and prosecutors.
Most recently, Abraham has represented Erik Rash in the case where Rash was accused of beating 18-year-old Dawson Isom on a Williamson street in 2015.
Sources friendly with the incoming administration said Abraham’s appointment will likely be announced tomorrow, Friday, January 13.