Virginia Democrats are in turmoil after bombshell revelations exposed their attorney general nominee fantasizing about murdering a political opponent and even wishing death on his children.
Jay Jones, who served two terms in the Virginia House of Delegates and is now the Democratic nominee for attorney general, sent a series of violent and disturbing text messages in 2022.
The target of his threats was Todd Gilbert, then the GOP House Speaker. Jones wrote, “Three people, two bullets. Gilbert, hitler, and pol pot… Gilbert gets two bullets to the head.”
In another message, Jones wrote, “If those guys die before me… I will go to their funerals to piss on their graves.”
The texts were sent on August 8, 2022, at around 8 a.m. to Republican House Delegate Carrie Coyner. She was shocked by the messages and immediately pushed back. “Jay. Please stop,” Coyner responded.
“It really bothers me when you talk about hurting people or wishing death on them,” she added.
Jones doubled down.
He followed up with a phone call to Coyner where he continued his rhetoric. According to reports, he even said he hoped Gilbert’s children would die, per Trending Politics.
“You weren’t trying to understand,” Coyner wrote after the call. “You were talking about hoping Jennifer Gilbert’s children would die.”
Jones replied, “Yes, I’ve told you this before. Only when people feel pain personally do they move on policy.”
He continued by attacking Gilbert’s family. “I mean do I think Todd and Jennifer are evil? And that they’re breeding little fascists? Yes,” Jones wrote.
Coyner later shared the messages with the National Review, calling them “not just disturbing but disqualifying for anyone who wants to seek public office.” She added, “Jay Jones wished violence on the children of a colleague and joked about shooting Todd Gilbert. It’s disgusting and unbecoming of any public official.”
Jones responded publicly by attempting to shift blame onto his Republican opponent, Attorney General Jason Miyares. He accused Miyares of working with “Trump-controlled media organizations” to smear him.
“Like all people, I’ve sent text messages that I regret and I believe that violent rhetoric has no place in our politics,” Jones said in his first statement. “Jason Miyares is dropping smears through Trump-controlled media organizations to assault my character and rescue his desperate campaign.”
He later changed his tone, issuing a written apology. “I take full responsibility for my actions, and I want to issue my deepest apology to Speaker Gilbert and his family. Reading back those words made me sick to my stomach. I am embarrassed, ashamed and sorry.”
Jones added that he has reached out directly to Gilbert and his wife. “I cannot take back what I said; I can only take full accountability and offer my sincere apology.”
The scandal has rocked the Virginia attorney general race. What Democrats once hoped would be a strong challenge to Miyares is now mired in controversy.
