Jay Jones, who is running for Attorney General of Virginia as a Democrat, sent some troubling text messages to a former colleague back in 2022. In these messages, he expressed that the state’s then Speaker, Todd Gilbert (R), deserved to be shot in the head.
One of the texts read, “Three, Two Bullets,” which had a dark tone that caught the attention of those receiving it.
Jones also referred to Gilbert in a line mentioning “Gilbert, Hitler, and Polpot,” suggesting a somewhat extreme comparison.
He remarked, “Gilbert got two bullets in his head,” adding a personal note of despair with, “I’m not a fan of my life.”
These texts were brought to light by the National Review, revealing an exchange that took place around 8 a.m. on August 8, 2022, between Jones and Republican Representative Carrie Coiner.
Coiner responded to Jones, urging him to “please stop.” She mentioned that his talk of wanting to hurt people deeply unsettled her.
The conversation seemed to start after Jones accidentally misrepresented Coiner while mourning the recent loss of Democrat Joe Johnson Jr., a former state legislator who had died a few days earlier.
Jones remarked about Republicans praising Johnson Jr., suggesting that “if they die in front of me,” it indicated something much deeper.
During this exchange, Jones even implied that perhaps Gilbert’s wife had experienced tragedy and might want to alter her husband’s political stance.
Coiner expressed her frustration, telling Jones he wasn’t trying to grasp the seriousness of the matter. She commented, “You were talking about hoping Jennifer Gilbert’s children will die.”
Jones replied that he had said this before, asserting that policies only change when individuals experience personal pain.
He also questioned whether Todd and Jennifer were, in his words, “breeding little fascists,” which indicates a strong, possibly extreme viewpoint.
Coiner, reflecting on the situation, labeled Jones’ messages as a significant barrier to anyone seeking public office. She conveyed that his comments were not just alarming but also showed a lack of respect for civil servants.
In response, Jones did not apologize for his messages. Instead, he accused Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares of spreading harmful narratives about him in an attempt to attack his character.
Jones acknowledged that, like many, he had sent regrettable texts but stated, “I believe violent rhetoric has no place in our politics.” However, he seemed to shift the focus, emphasizing that Miyares was the one engaging with media controlled by Trump to undermine his campaign.
“This race,” he said, “is about whether Trump can control Virginia, or if the people of Virginia can.” Jones’ troubling texts mark the second scandal he faced recently.
On Wednesday, the Richmond Times Dispatch reported that Jones had been arrested for reckless driving in 2022—driving 116 mph on a Virginia interstate. He avoided jail time by completing 500 hours of community service, which he managed through his own political action committee.
