House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) is standing by Virginia’s embattled Democrat attorney general candidate Jay Jones.
Like other Democrat leaders, Jeffries is refusing to urge Jones to drop out of the race, even after resurfaced text messages revealed the AG nominee fantasized about shooting his Republican rival in the head and wishing death on his children.
“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 said.
“And that’s the right thing to do.”
Jeffries’ defense comes as Jones faces mounting calls to drop out of the race, including from his Republican opponent, Jason Miyares.
Miyares said Jones should disqualify himself at a Thursday night debate.
Text Messages Expose Violent Fantasies
The controversy centers on text messages Jones sent to Republican Del. Carrie Coyner in 2022, while serving as a state delegate.
In the exchange, Jones wrote:
“Three people, two bullets.
“Gilbert, Hitler, and Pol Pot.
“Gilbert gets two bullets to the head.”
In another message, he doubled down:
“Spoiler: put Gilbert in the crew with the two worst people you know, and he receives both bullets every time.”
Jones was referring to then–House Speaker Todd Gilbert, a Republican.
He went further, reportedly texting that he hoped Gilbert’s children would die, adding that such grief could be “a good thing” if it advanced his political goals.
The exchange revealed that Jones continued to push the horrific comments even as Coyner begged him to stop.
Democrats Refuse to Call for Withdrawal
Despite the graphic nature of the messages, top Democrats have declined to call on Jones to step aside.
Democrat gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger, pressed repeatedly during her own debate last week, refused to call for Jones to withdraw from the race.
At Thursday’s debate, Jones acknowledged the texts, calling himself “ashamed” and “embarrassed.”
“I am sorry,” Jones said.
“I am sorry to Speaker Gilbert.
“I am sorry to his family.
“And I am sorry to every single Virginian.”
But he refused to directly answer questions about whether his judgment should disqualify him from seeking statewide office.
GOP Opponent Slams Jones’ Record
Miyares hammered Jones over the violent rhetoric and other controversies surrounding his campaign, including a reckless driving conviction and allegations that he attempted to skirt his community service requirements.
“He couldn’t pass a background check to be a prosecutor in my office, or probably any other attorney general’s office around the country,” Miyares argued.
Silence from Other Democrat Leaders
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has been pressed for a response but refused to comment.
For now, Jones remains in the race with the backing of top Democrats, despite messages that fantasized about murdering a political rival and his children.
After the texts exposed violent fantasies of someone running for the state’s top law enforcement job, Virginians have every right to be deeply concerned.
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