Jay Jones Apologizes for Violent Remarks in Leaked Messages
(MENAFN) Democratic candidate for Virginia attorney general, Jay Jones, has issued an apology following the release of controversial text messages in which he imagined violent scenarios involving a Republican lawmaker.
The messages, dating back to 2022, were revealed by a news outlet on Friday and contain aggressive language aimed at then–Virginia House Speaker Todd Gilbert. Gilbert had recently paid tribute to Joe Johnson Jr., a late moderate Democrat and former state legislator.
In the texts, Jones expressed extreme hostility toward certain political figures, stating, “If those guys die before me, I will go to their funerals to piss on their graves” and referring to it as a way to “send them out awash in something.”
He directed these comments in a conversation with Republican delegate Carrie Coyner.
Another message, also cited by the news outlet, includes Jones comparing Gilbert to infamous historical figures: “Three people, two bullets. Gilbert, Hitler, and Pol Pot. Gilbert gets two bullets to the head. Spoiler: put Gilbert in the crew with the two worst people you know and he receives both bullets every time.”
Reports indicate that Jones also told Coyner during a phone call that he hoped Gilbert’s spouse would witness their own child die, suggesting such a tragedy might lead Gilbert to change his political stance.
Despite the backlash, Jones, who is campaigning against Republican incumbent Jason Miyares, has chosen to remain in the race.
He acknowledged the severity of his words, saying he takes “full responsibility” and emphasized that he has personally reached out to Speaker Gilbert and his family to apologize.
“Reading back those words made me sick to my stomach... I have reached out to Speaker Gilbert to apologize directly to him, his wife Jennifer, and their children,” Jones stated.
He concluded by affirming that “Virginians deserve honest leaders who admit when they are wrong.”
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