Jay Jones, a Democrat running for the Virginia attorney general’s office, has faced a massive amount of backlash over a 2022 text message where he referenced shooting former House Speaker Todd Gilbert, stating, “Gilbert gets two bullets to the head.”
Reacting to these absurd remarks, Gov. Glenn Youngkin condemned the “violent, disgusting rhetoric,” demanding Jones abandon his campaign “in disgrace.” Similarly, the Republican Attorneys General Association and a Coyner campaign spokesperson echoed this call for justice. While he issued a public apology, expressing shame and taking full responsibility, Jay Jones insisted on continuing his campaign.
Reacting to the situation, Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin condemned these vile comments. “This violent, disgusting rhetoric targeted at an elected official and his children is beyond disqualifying. Jay Jones said that ‘Gilbert gets two bullets to the head’ and then hoped his children would die,” Youngkin declared.
Building on this point, he noted, “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 from this campaign in disgrace.”
Adding another view on the scandal, a Coyner Campaign Spokesperson condemned these vile comments. “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,” the representative noted.
Building on this point, RAGA Chairman Kris Kobach made his opinions on the matter clear, saying, “There is no place for political violence, including joking about it — especially from an elected official. Jay Jones should drop out of the Attorney General’s race. His comments are not acceptable from someone who wants to represent law enforcement.”
Reacting to the widespread condemnation, Jay Jones appeared to take responsibility while staying in the race. “I take full responsibility for my actions, and I want to issue my deepest apology to Speaker Gilbert and his family. Reading back those words made me sick to my stomach. I am embarrassed, ashamed, and sorry,” he whined.
"*" indicates required fields
Still not done, he kept trying to deflect the blame, saying, ” I have reached out to Speaker Gilbert to apologize directly to him, his wife Jennifer, and their children. I cannot take back what I said; I can only take full accountability and offer my sincere apology.”
Finally concluding his comments, the controversial candidate noted, “Virginians deserve honest leaders who admit when they are wrong and own up to their mistakes. This was a grave mistake, and I will work every day to prove to the people of Virginia that I will fight for them as Attorney General.”
In a hilarious post to Truth Social, President Trump blasted the dem in a post which read, “Abigail Spanberger, who is running for Governor, is weak and ineffective, and refuses to acknowledge what this Lunatic has done. 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, by the way, has my Complete and Total Endorsement — JASON WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!”