Charnock not yet off the hook

After keeping the lowest of profiles for more than a year, the Bill Charnock probe has been given a shot in the arm, according to The Charleston Gazette.

A judge has given the special prosecutor in the case more time and latitude to investigate Charnock's conduct while head of the state's Prosecuting Attorney's Institute. (Evidence of how off-the-radar this matter has been: Judge Paul Zakaib apparently signed the order extending the special prosecutor's term back in November...)

The probe was sparked by a legislative audit that found that Charnock had used the institute to run his successful, 2004 campaign for Kanawha County prosecutor as well as prior campaigns for two of his siblings. (This audit also involved ex-U.S. Attorney Kasey Warner, and offers a possible reason behind Warner's abrupt removal from that appointed post)

Charnock has chalked up the audit to politics, and similarly regards previous reports (here and here) questioning his tenure at the institute. He tells the Gazette that he intends to serve out his four-year term.