Democratic candidate for attorney general in Virginia, Jay Jones, is facing criticism online following a recent post on X related to a texting scandal.
In his post, he stated, “As a father of two young boys, I know how tough grocery prices can be each week. I’m running for attorney general to help protect families from rising costs, whether it’s utility bills or the price of berries.”
This comment drew ire as critics expressed concern over his framing as a father, especially in light of text messages that recently surfaced. A member of the Republican Bar Association remarked, “As a father of young boys, I think anyone who fantasizes about harming their children is certainly mentally unfit for public office!”
Several politicians, including Rep. Brandon Gill from Texas, harshly criticized Jones. Gill labeled Jones a “dirtbag” and insisted he should exit the race, stating, “As a father, you should understand that wishing death on your political opponents’ children is truly abhorrent.”
Amid the backlash, Jones maintained that his statements were taken out of context. He asserted he was merely posing a rhetorical question, whereas his colleague, Republican Congresswoman Carrie Coyner, was deeply disturbed by his remarks.
Allegations surfaced earlier this month detailing text exchanges where Jones allegedly suggested violence towards various political figures, including then-House Speaker Todd Gilbert and his family. One message from Jones included the unsettling line, “Three people, two bullets. Gilbert, Hitler, Pol Pot. Gilbert gets two bullets in the head.”
Coyner urged him to reconsider such language, which she found disturbing. Jones later issued an apology, acknowledging that revisiting those texts made him feel “sick to my stomach,” adding that he was embarrassed by his words.
Despite the controversy, the Democratic Party has largely refrained from asking Jones to resign or withdraw support. He is set to debate current Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares on Thursday, where these issues are expected to come up.
