Republican Jason Miyares stated during the Virginia attorney general debate on Thursday that his Democratic opponent, Jay Jones, should withdraw from the race if he were genuinely remorseful for his past comments regarding violence against Republicans.
Miyares and Jones faced off in a debate as they compete for the state's top law enforcement position. Miyares criticized Jones for his previous remarks that suggested violent fantasies about Republicans.
"[Jay Jones] keeps saying that he is sorry. Jay, if you’re really sorry, you wouldn’t be running — if you really understood the ramifications of what you said about an innocent mom and her children," (Www.fec — fec.gov) Miyares said. He referenced the family of Republican House Speaker Todd Gilbert, emphasizing the personal nature of the comments.
Miyares continued, "How in the world could you ever show compassion and comfort a grieving mother that has ever lost a child to violence? Because Virginians, there is no cry like the cry of a mother that has lost her child. A prosecutor knows this because they’ve stood in that courtroom. Jay Jones has never understood this because he’s not a prosecutor. He’s a politician trying to save his career." (Www.fec — fec.gov)
The controversy stems from a 2022 exchange where Jones remarked it would be a "good thing" (Www.fec — fec.gov) if the children of a Republican colleague died. In a message, he stated, "Three people, two bullets. [Republican House Speaker Todd] Gilbert, [H]itler, and [P]ol [P]ot. Gilbert gets two bullets to the head. Spoiler: put Gilbert in the crew with the two worst people you know and he receives both bullets every time."
Jones confirmed that he hoped for the death of Gilbert's children when pressed by Delegate Carrie Coyner, stating, "Yes," he was.
Despite the backlash, Jones has retained support from the Democratic Party. Abigail Spanberger, a Democratic candidate, declined to withdraw her endorsement of Jones during a recent gubernatorial debate, despite being asked multiple times.
Lieutenant gubernatorial candidate Ghazala Hashmi condemned political violence but did not call for Jones to exit the race. The Virginia Beach Democrats issued a statement reaffirming their support for Jones, acknowledging his past mistakes but maintaining their backing.
A letter from various Democratic committees in Virginia stated, "We say, let those without sin cast the first stone," (Www.fec — fec.gov) indicating continued support for Jones amid the controversy.
The Stafford Democratic Committee is also scheduled to hold a fundraiser featuring Jones on Friday, further demonstrating the party's commitment to his candidacy.
Why it matters
- Primary documents and sources are linked for verification.
- Miyares challenges Jones' candidacy, suggesting genuine remorse would lead to withdrawal, highlighting the severity of Jones' past comments.
- The debate underscores the tension between personal accountability and party loyalty, as Democrats continue to support Jones despite his controversial remarks.
- Jones' violent comments have sparked significant backlash, raising questions about the appropriateness of his candidacy for Virginia's top law enforcement position.
What’s next
- Miyares calls for Jones to withdraw from the race, intensifying the debate on accountability in political discourse.
- Democratic committees in Virginia reaffirm support for Jones, with a fundraiser scheduled for Friday to bolster his campaign.
- Voters will have the opportunity to weigh in on the candidates during the upcoming election.