Scandal has erupted in Virginia’s attorney general race, and it’s uglier than a mud-slinging campaign ad on repeat.
The controversy centers on Democratic candidate Jay Jones, whose 2022 text messages fantasizing about violence against a Republican rival and making disturbing remarks about the rival’s family have sparked outrage, yet top party leaders refuse to push for his withdrawal.
Back in 2022, while serving as a state delegate, Jones sent texts to Del. Carrie Coyner, R-Hopewell, that were anything but neighborly. In a shocking exchange, he mused about putting “two bullets” in the head of then-House Speaker Todd Gilbert, comparing him to history’s worst tyrants. It’s the kind of rhetoric that makes you wonder if Jones thought he was auditioning for a gritty crime drama.
Not content to stop at violent imagery, Jones took it further in those same messages, expressing a twisted hope that Gilbert’s children might suffer as a political pawn. If that doesn’t raise eyebrows about judgment, what does?
Fast forward to the present, and these messages have resurfaced, casting a dark shadow over Jones’ bid for attorney general. The public backlash has been swift, with many Virginians questioning how someone with such a record could oversee justice in the commonwealth.
During a debate on Thursday night at the University of Richmond, Jones faced his Republican opponent, Jason Miyares, who didn’t hold back. Miyares argued that Jones wouldn’t even pass a background check to be a prosecutor in most offices, let alone lead as attorney general. That’s a burn hotter than a summer day in Richmond.
Jones did offer an apology during the debate, attempting to put out the fire. “And I am sorry. I am sorry to Speaker Gilbert. I am sorry to his family. And I am sorry to every single Virginian,” he said, as reported from the event.
But apologies don’t erase the past, and Jones stumbled when pressed on whether his judgment should be questioned, especially with additional criticism over allegedly dodging community service after a reckless driving conviction. Dodging accountability isn’t exactly the resume builder for a top law enforcement role.
Meanwhile, GOP candidate Miyares kept the pressure on, pointing out the obvious: character matters in a position of such trust. It’s hard to argue with that when the texts in question read like a rejected movie script.
Despite the mounting calls for Jones to step aside, prominent Democratic leaders like House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries are standing firm. “The attorney general candidate has appropriately apologized for his remarks, and I know his remarks have been condemned across the board by Democrats in the commonwealth of Virginia and beyond,” Jeffries stated. That’s a nice sentiment, but does a sorry really cover fantasizing about violence?
Other party heavyweights, including Virginia gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger, have similarly dodged calls to push Jones out during recent debates. It’s a curious strategy—supporting a candidate whose words have alienated so many. Is party loyalty now a shield for indefensible behavior?
Even attempts to reach Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer for comment went unanswered, per Fox News Digital. Silence from the top isn’t exactly a ringing endorsement, but it’s not a condemnation either. It’s a tightrope walk that leaves voters scratching their heads.
During the debate, Jones tried to pivot, invoking former President Donald Trump nearly 50 times while tying Miyares to so-called ‘MAGA’ rhetoric. If you’re counting, that’s more deflections than a pinball machine. But does name-dropping distract from the real issue of personal accountability?
This scandal isn’t just a bump in the road; it’s a crater that could redefine the race for Virginia’s attorney general. While Democrats circle the wagons, many conservatives—and likely plenty of moderates—see this as a stark reminder of why character and judgment must trump party lines. The question remains: will voters forgive, or will they demand better?
