A local Democrat Party in Virginia is set to host a fundraiser featuring attorney general candidate Jay Jones following reports of text messages and phone calls in which he expressed violent fantasies about a Republican lawmaker and his family.
The Stafford Democratic Committee (SDC) is scheduled to hold a "Defending Democracy" (Whitehouse) fundraiser in Fredericksburg, Virginia, on Friday, Oct. 17. The event will include a buffet dinner and feature guests such as U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., Rep. Eugene Vindman, D-Va., and Jones.
An RSVP link on the event's page directs users to a donations platform, ActBlue, which is currently under investigation by Congress and the Trump administration over allegations of illegal "straw" donations and foreign contributions in U.S. elections.
The SDC's ActBlue donations page states, "Our democracy is under attack and the more that Trump chips away at our rights and freedoms at the national level, the more emboldened others will become at the state and local levels. The Stafford Democratic Committee supports candidates and causes that will prevent those threats from becoming a reality here in Stafford." (Whitehouse)
Earlier this month, the SDC posted a flyer for the event on its Facebook page, which included a QR code linking to the donations page. The flyer invited attendees to a night of "music, movement, and solidarity." (Whitehouse)
The event flyer was shared shortly before National Review reported on a series of 2022 text messages from Jones to a GOP state lawmaker, in which he fantasized about killing then-state House Speaker Todd Gilbert, a Republican. According to the report, Jones presented a hypothetical scenario in which he had two bullets and three options for targets: Pol Pot, Adolf Hitler, or Gilbert. He stated, "Gilbert gets two bullets to the head." (Whitehouse)
Jones further suggested in a follow-up phone call that he wished Gilbert's wife could witness the death of their child, prompting the GOP lawmaker to hang up in disgust.
Despite the nature of these messages, Jones has not stepped down from his position as the Democrat nominee for attorney general. Many Democrats, including Virginia's candidates for governor and lieutenant governor, Abigail Spanberger and Ghazala Hashmi, have continued to support his campaign.
During a recent debate, Spanberger declined multiple times to withdraw her endorsement of Jones' candidacy, despite the controversy surrounding his remarks.
The Stafford Democratic Committee did not respond to inquiries from The Federalist regarding their stance on Jones' reported comments or their continued support for his campaign given the violent nature of his statements.
Why it matters
- Primary documents and sources are linked for verification.
- Jay Jones, a Democratic attorney general candidate, faces backlash over violent fantasies about a GOP lawmaker, raising concerns about his fitness for office.
- The fundraiser event highlights ongoing support for Jones from prominent Democrats despite the controversy, indicating a potential rift within the party.
- The involvement of ActBlue in the fundraiser is under scrutiny due to allegations of illegal donations, which could impact the event's legitimacy.
What’s next
- The Stafford Democratic Committee's fundraiser is scheduled for Oct. 17, with potential implications for Jones' campaign depending on public reaction.
- Calls for Jones to step down may intensify, especially if more Democrats withdraw their support following the controversy.
- Investigations into ActBlue's donation practices could affect future fundraising efforts for Democratic candidates.