A top Virginia police union told Jay Jones to immediately withdraw his nomination for Democratic attorney general, days after a scandal involving his text messages surfaced.
Jones is facing intense backlash after it was revealed that he wished death upon a Republican lawmaker and his family in 2022. At the time, he wrote that Todd Gilbert “gets two bullets to the head” when stacked alongside infamous dictators Adolf Hitler and Pol Pot.
After the bombshell story broke, Jones apologized to Gilbert and his family. However, the scandal is expected to cost him dearly in the final weeks of the state race.
Virginia Fraternal Order of Police President Ray Clemons became the latest official to tell Jones to bow out because of his violent language in a letter sent directly to Jones on Monday.
“While this incident may have occurred in 2022, this conduct has no place in our society or democracy, especially from an elected official who is running to be the top prosecutor in Virginia,” Clemons wrote on behalf of his union. “The men and women of the Virginia Fraternal Order unequivocally condemn these violent text messages sent by you about a political opponent and his family.”
“We have seen what this type of rhetoric has caused in other parts of the country. The men and women of law enforcement work tirelessly to combat the violence you wished on a fellow Virginian and his family,” he continued. “Therefore, the members of the Virginia Fraternal Order of Police believe that you, Jay Jones, are unfit for the office of Attorney General of Virginia. It is time you hold yourself accountable for these actions and withdraw from the Attorney General race immediately.”
The police union has not endorsed any candidate in the state’s elections.
Among the Republicans who called on Jones to resign are President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R-VA), Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, and Attorney General Jason Miyares. Looking to stay in office, Miyares launched an ad attacking his opponent following the text scandal.
In contrast, Democrats have largely remained less forceful on the matter.
Former Democratic Virginia Rep. Abigail Spanberger, who is running for governor to succeed Youngkin, criticized her running mate’s rhetoric yet refused to demand his campaign exit, and Virginia Beach Democrats stood by Jones.
JAY JONES’S VIOLENT TEXT MESSAGES IN VIRGINIA BLEED INTO THE NATIONAL DEBATE
On Monday, Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) revealed that he is still supporting Jones with a month until Election Day.
“The comments are completely indefensible,” Kaine told CNN. “I’ve known Jay Jones for 25 years, and those comments are very much out of character for him. So if I put the comments, which are clearly beyond the pale, against knowing this guy for 25 years, I’m still supporting Jay Jones.”
