Jay Jones, Virginia’s Democratic nominee for attorney general, sent a series of disturbing text messages to a former colleague in 2022, where he suggested the state’s then-House Speaker Todd Gilbert (R) deserved to be shot in the head.
“Three people, two bullets,” read a text from Jones, obtained by The Post from a source.
“Gilbert, hitler, and pol pot,” the former member of the Virginia House of Delegates continued, presenting the recipient of his text with a dark hypothetical.
“Gilbert gets two bullets to the head,” Jones wrote, adding, “Spoiler: put Gilbert in the crew with the two worst people you know and he receives both bullets every time.”
The texts, first-reported by National Review on Friday, were sent by Jones at around 8 a.m., on Aug. 8, 2022, to Republican House Delegate Carrie Coyner – who was clearly troubled by the messages.
“Jay,” Coyner wrote back. “Please stop.”
“It really bothers me when you talk about hurting people or wishing death on them,” she added.
Jones initiated the exchange after he appeared to accidentally text Coyner bemoaning the “glowing tributes” centrist Democrat Joe Johnson Jr., a former state legislator who died just days before, had been receiving from Republicans, including Gilbert.
“If those guys die before me,” Jones said of the Republicans praising Johnson Jr., “I will go to their funerals to piss on their graves.”
“Send them out awash in something.”
Jones called 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, according to National Review, citing a source.
“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 continued.
In a statement, Coyner told National Review that what Jones texted her “was not just disturbing but disqualifying for anyone who wants to seek public office.”
“Jay Jones wished violence on the children of a colleague and joked about shooting Todd Gilbert. It’s disgusting and unbecoming of any public official,” she added.
Meanwhile, Jones did not apologize for the texts and accused his GOP opponent, incumbent Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares, of “dropping smears.”
“Like all people, I’ve sent text messages that I regret and I believe that violent rhetoric has no place in our politics,” Jones said in a statement to the Virginia Scope.
“Let’s be clear about what is happening in the Attorney General race right now: Jason Miyares is dropping smears through Trump-controlled media organizations to assault my character and rescue his desperate campaign,” he added. “This is a strategy that ensures Jason Miyares will continue to be accountable to Donald Trump, not the people of Virginia.”
“This race is about whether Trump can control Virginia or Virginians control Virginia.”
Jones’ disturbing texts mark the second scandal the Democratic candidate has faced this week.
On Wednesday, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported that Jones was busted for reckless driving in 2022 – when he was caught driving 116 mph down a Virginia interstate – but avoided jail time by completing 500 hours of community service with his own political action committee.
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