Hakeem Jeffries Supports Jay Jones for Attorney General in Virginia

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) declared on Thursday that he is backing Democrat Jay Jones in the race for Virginia’s attorney general. This support comes despite past text messages reportedly from Jones, wherein he discusses dark fantasies involving violence.

Jeffries addressed reporters at the Capitol, asserting that he found Jones’ apology to be adequate. He stated, “The attorney general nominee has appropriately apologized for his comments, and I am aware that his comments have been roundly condemned by federal Democrats. That’s the right thing to do in Virginia and beyond. It’s the right thing to do.”

Back on August 8, 2022, Jones had sent a text to Republican Representative Carrie Coyner that appeared shocking. In it, he suggested that then-House Speaker Todd Gilbert and his children should be shot. One of his messages read, “Two shots for three people.”

Further messages elaborated, implicating Gilbert alongside historical figures, indicating, “Gilbert gets two bullets in the head. Spoiler: If you put Gilbert in a crew with two of the worst people you know, he gets both bullets every time.”

Virginia’s Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin has since urged Jones to resign, emphasizing that such violent language aimed at elected officials and their families is unacceptable. Youngkin remarked, “This violent and hateful rhetoric targeting elected officials and their children is beyond disqualifying. Jay Jones said, ‘Gilbert got two bullets in the head,’ and then he hoped the children would die. Read those words again. There is no ‘regret’ here.”

He stated that Jones lacks the moral character to continue in the race and criticized Democratic candidates, including Abigail Spanberger and Ghazala Hashmi, for not demanding Jones’ resignation.

As reported previously, Spanberger, who is running for governor, did not withdraw her support for Jones during a debate against Republican candidate Lt. Gov. Winsome Earl Sears. When asked if she still backed him for attorney general, she answered, “What I’m saying is, for now, it’s up to every voter to make their own personal decision. I’m running for governor. I’m responsible for my words, my actions, and the policies I put forward.”

Spanberger also mentioned that she condemned the troubling rhetoric when it first surfaced.