The mask slipped again for the so-called “party of tolerance.” Jay Jones, a Democrat running for Virginia Attorney General, is under fire after a shocking 2022 text message surfaced in which he appeared to fantasize about murdering former Republican House Speaker Todd Gilbert. In the disturbing message, Jones wrote, “Gilbert gets two bullets to the head.”
The revelation has set off a political firestorm across Virginia, with Republicans — and even some Democrats — demanding that Jones abandon his campaign in disgrace. Governor Glenn Youngkin led the charge, blasting the “violent, disgusting rhetoric” and calling Jones “morally unfit to serve.”
“This violent, disgusting rhetoric targeted at an elected official and his children is beyond disqualifying,” Youngkin said in a blistering statement. “Jay Jones said that ‘Gilbert gets two bullets to the head’ and then hoped his children would die. Read those words again. There is no ‘Gosh, I’m sorry’ here. Jones doesn’t have the morality or character to drop out of this race — and his running mates, Abigail Spanberger, Ghazala Hashmi, and every elected Democrat in Virginia don’t have the courage to call on him to step away in disgrace.”
While Jones issued an apology after the text became public, his refusal to drop out has only fueled outrage. His so-called “remorse” rings hollow to many Virginians, who view it as little more than damage control from a politician caught saying what he really thinks.
“I take full responsibility for my actions, and I want to issue my deepest apology to Speaker Gilbert and his family,” Jones said. “Reading back those words made me sick to my stomach. I am embarrassed, ashamed, and sorry.”
But few are buying it. Critics argue that his statement is just another example of the Democratic double standard — where violent threats against conservatives are excused as “mistakes,” while Republicans are vilified for far less.
A spokesperson for Republican Delegate Carrie Coyner slammed Jones’ behavior, saying, “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.”
Kris Kobach, chairman of the Republican Attorneys General Association, went even further, declaring, “There is no place for political violence — including joking about it. Jay Jones should drop out of the Attorney General’s race immediately. His comments are not acceptable from someone who claims to represent law enforcement.”
Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump took to Truth Social to deliver his signature truth bomb, shredding Jones and calling out Virginia Democrats for their silence.
“Abigail Spanberger, who is running for Governor, is weak and ineffective, and refuses to acknowledge what this Lunatic has done,” Trump posted. “Even Democrats are saying it is ‘RESIGNATION FROM CAMPAIGN’ TERRITORY. Democrat Jay Jones should drop out of the Race, IMMEDIATELY, and the People of Virginia must continue to have a GREAT Attorney General in Jason Miyares — who has my Complete and Total Endorsement. JASON WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!”
The scandal has become a glaring reminder of the left’s hypocrisy on “civility.” While Democrats lecture the country about “political violence,” one of their own casually joked about assassinating a Republican leader — and still expects to be trusted with enforcing the law.
If this is the Democratic Party’s idea of “justice,” Virginians would be wise to keep their trust — and their votes — far away from Jay Jones.
