Virginia attorney general candidate Jay Jones was called out by his Republican opponent during their first and only debate Thursday after the embattled Democrat touted his plan to keep “children safe” weeks after his sick text messages about hoping a mother could watch her kids die surfaced.
Jones, who has plummeted in the polls since the scandal broke, used his opening statement to once again apologize for the text messages he sent a colleague about former Virginia House Speaker Todd Gilbert, his wife, Jennifer, and their two young children.
“Let me be very clear: I am ashamed. I am embarrassed. And I am sorry,” Jones said, later adding, “I cannot take back what I said, but you have my word that I will always be accountable for my mistakes.”
Jones went on to promote the three planks of his public safety plan – cracking down on violent crime, getting illegal guns off the streets and “keeping our children safe” – noting that “the last pillar is important to me as a father.”
“We need to establish a dedicated child safety unit to crackdown on predators, domestic abusers and the folks who make our kids less safe and less secure … with this plan and our experience and track record, we can keep Virginia safe,” the Democratic nominee argued.
Incumbent Attorney General Jason Miyares seized on Jones’ remarks about children and safety.
“There’s a reason why the Fraternal Order of Police, the PBA [Police Benevolent Association] and every single major law enforcement association in the state of Virginia has not just endorsed me, Jay, they’ve said you need to drop out,” Miyares said.
“I find it a little bit stunning that today you say that one of the pillars of your public safety platform is protecting children.”
“Were you protecting Jennifer’s children when you said you wanted to see them die in their mother’s arms?” the Republican continued. “How can anybody who has ever worked in crimes against children … how can they ever take you seriously to be the top prosecutor knowing that your view is that children should die to advance a political agenda?”
“It’s unconscionable, and If you were truly sorry, you would not be running for this office because you’ve disqualified yourself.”
In August 2022, Jones texted Republican House Delegate Carrie Coyner about how Gilbert deserved to be shot in the head.
“Three people, two bullets,” read a text from Jones, obtained by The Post, and first-reported by National Review.
“Gilbert, hitler, and pol pot,” the former member of the Virginia House of Delegates continued. “Gilbert gets two bullets to the head.”
Jones proceeded to call Coyner during their text exchange and reportedly doubled down, suggesting that he wished Gilbert’s wife could watch her children die, to perhaps change the former House speaker’s political views.
“You weren’t trying to understand,” Coyner texted Jones after she reportedly hung up on him. “You were talking about hopping [sic] Jennifer Gilbert’s children would die.”
The Democratic AG candidate responded: “Yes, I’ve told you this before. Only when people feel pain personally do they move on policy.”
“I mean do I think Todd and Jennifer are evil? And that they’re breeding little fascists? Yes,” Jones wrote.
A survey released Thursday by the Trafalgar Group, a right-leaning pollster, showed Miyares leading the Virginia AG race, with 49.5% support compared to Jones’s 44.6% backing.
Multiple polls conducted before Jones’ text scandal showed the Democrat leading the race by six percentage points.
