Virginia AG Candidate Jay Jones Apologizes for Violent 2022 Texts Amid Election Campaign
Virginia AG Candidate Jay Jones Apologizes for Violent 2022 Texts Amid Election Campaign
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia’s Democratic candidate for attorney general, Jay Jones, has issued an apology for inflammatory text messages sent in 2022, which revealed him suggesting that a prominent Republican receive “two bullets to the head.” This controversy has placed Jones on the defensive as early voting is actively underway in Virginia for the November general election.
Jones’ campaign acknowledged the accuracy of the texts, initially reported by The National Review, leading to his public apology to Todd Gilbert, the former Speaker of Virginia’s House of Delegates and the target of the messages. Jones stated he took “full responsibility for my actions.”
The surfacing of these messages has drawn a torrent of bipartisan criticism. Republican incumbent Jason Miyares, whom Jones is challenging for the state’s top prosecutor role, sharply questioned Jones’ fitness for office, remarking, “You have to be coming from an incredibly dark place to say what you said.”
Further details from The National Review report indicate that in a subsequent phone conversation, Jones described Gilbert’s children dying in their mother’s arms. Miyares condemned this, drawing on his experience as a prosecutor and Attorney General, stating, “There is no cry like the cry of a mother that lost her child.”
The revelation has significantly impacted the Virginia statewide races, which are closely watched for trends ahead of next year’s congressional midterm elections. Other prominent Virginia Democrats have also voiced their disapproval. Gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger expressed her “disgust” and demanded Jones take full responsibility, while Lieutenant Governor candidate Ghazala Hashmi condemned political violence in all forms.
The Republican Attorneys General Association called for Jones to withdraw from the campaign, with Chairman Kris Kobach labeling the messages “abhorrent” and unacceptable from a prospective law enforcement representative. Jones, who previously served as a state legislator but did not hold office when the 2022 texts were sent, conveyed his remorse: “Reading back those words made me sick to my stomach. I am embarrassed, ashamed and sorry.” He confirmed reaching out to Gilbert and his family to offer a direct apology.
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