Governor Glenn Youngkin of Virginia has urged attorney general candidate Jay Jones to withdraw from the race following the emergence of disturbing messages in which Jones fantasized about violent acts against a Republican lawmaker.
The Republican leader sharply criticized the Democratic frontrunner for Virginia’s attorney general position, as text exchanges from 2022 surfaced with Jones making violent and repugnant comments aimed at then-House Speaker Todd Gilbert and his family.
“This violent and disgusting language directed at an elected official and his children is absolutely disqualifying,” Youngkin stated on X on Saturday morning.
“Jay Jones remarked that ‘Gilbert gets two bullets to the head’ while also wishing death upon his children. Read that statement again. There’s no ‘I’m sorry’ here. Jones lacks the morality and character necessary to continue in this race,” he asserted.
He further lamented that Jones’ fellow Democratic candidates and all elected Democrats in Virginia did not possess the courage to urge him to “withdraw in disgrace from his campaign.”
The communications, which were first brought to light by National Review and later acquired by The Post, included texts sent by Jones on August 8, 2022, to Republican Delegate Carrie Coyner, who appeared disturbed by their sinister nature.
“Three people, two bullets,” read one of the messages from Jones, previously a member of the Virginia House of Delegates.
“Gilbert, Hitler, and Pol Pot. Gilbert receives two bullets to the head. Spoiler alert: put Gilbert in the company of the two worst individuals you know, and he always gets both bullets,” the text continued.
In response, Coyner urged her colleague to “please stop,” explaining that it disturbs her when he speaks about “hurting people” or “wishing death upon them,” indicating a recurring disturbing behavior.
Jones then reiterated his views, saying he hoped Gilbert’s wife would witness the death of her “little fascist” children, asserting it would alter Gilbert’s political stance, as reported by National Review.
“I take full responsibility for my words and offer my sincerest apologies to Speaker Gilbert and his family,” the candidate, who is challenging current Attorney General Jason Miyares in the upcoming Nov. 4 election, declared to WRIC on Friday.
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“Looking back at those statements made me feel nauseated. I am embarrassed, ashamed, and truly sorry. I have reached out to Speaker Gilbert to apologize personally to him, his wife Jennifer, and their children. While I cannot undo what I’ve said, I can fully acknowledge my responsibility and extend my heartfelt apology,” he added.
The release of these troubling texts marks the second scandal for Jones within the same week.
Earlier in the week, it was reported that Jones faced legal trouble for reckless driving in 2022—where he was recorded speeding at 116 mph on a Virginia highway—but evaded jail time by serving 500 hours of community service with his own political action committee.
Jones did not respond promptly to The Post’s inquiry for comments.
