Virginia Attorney General Candidate Faces Backlash Over Controversial Texts

Jay Jones, the Democratic candidate for Virginia Attorney General, finds himself in hot water following the leak of a text message that expressed a violent wish against GOP lawmakers. Interestingly, Jones, who is running alongside gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger, had previously received substantial financial backing from Everytown for Gun Safety, a major gun control organization, amounting to $200,000 in August.

These revelations came to light in a report by National Review, detailing a 2022 text where Jones compared former Virginia Senator Todd Gilbert to historical figures like Hitler and Pol Pot. He shockingly indicated that, given the chance, he would harm both Gilbert and Republican lawmakers.

Additionally, he made unsettling remarks hinting at violence towards Gilbert’s young child, which, understandably, raised eyebrows.

Calls for Jones to Withdraw from Race

This situation has drawn criticism and calls for Jones to step down from his candidacy, including from high-profile Republicans such as former President Donald Trump. Despite the uproar, Virginia Democrats have, for the moment, stood by Jones.

Everytown for Gun Safety had previously endorsed Jones, with their president, John Feinblatt, praising both Jones and Spanberger as champions for gun sense. Feinblatt emphasized that preventing gun violence is paramount in Virginia.

In light of these recent events, Fox News Digital attempted to reach out to Everytown for clarification on whether they still support Jones or if they plan to request the return of their donation, but received no response.

Jones later apologized for his messages, referring to them as “embarrassing and shameful.” He reportedly reached out to Gilbert and his family to express his remorse.

Spanberger, on the campaign trail, condemned Jones’ statements but stopped short of demanding his withdrawal from the race, which might suggest a complicated stance amidst the growing controversy.