Virginia AG candidate once referenced putting ‘two bullets to the head’ of GOP leader, texts show
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Virginia Democratic attorney general candidate Jay Jones once remarked on shooting the Virginia House speaker in texts with another lawmaker, the latest example of charged political rhetoric some have called the politics of "rage."
Texts obtained by Fox News Digital Friday showed an August 2022 conversation between Jones — then a recently departed delegate from Norfolk — and another lawmaker after the death of Del. Joe Johnson, D-Bristol, at age 90.
"Hence the glowing tributes from the Rs. Damn, that (message) was for Mark," Jones texted Del. Carrie Coyner, R-Chester.
At the time, several House Republicans — including leadership — offered eulogizing words for Johnson, who had been known as an aisle-crossing, friendly moderate. One of those who had kind words for Johnson was then-House Speaker Todd Gilbert , R-Shenandoah.
Jones told Coyner that Johnson "leaked everything to your [Republican] caucus. It’s why Gilbert gave him such a glowing tribute."
"If those guys die before me, I will go to their funerals to piss on their graves," he continued. "Send them out awash in something."
At that point, Coyner appeared to attempt to rein in the conversation, texting, "Jay Jones."
But Jones continued, adding, "Three people, two bullets. Gilbert, Hitler and Pol Pot. Gilbert gets two bullets to the head."
The future attorney general candidate was not yet finished condemning the House leader.
"Spoiler: put Gilbert in the crew with the two worst people you know and he receives both bullets every time," he wrote.
Coyner tried again to end the conversation: "Jay. Please stop."
"Lol. OK, OK," he replied.
A source familiar with the situation told Fox News Digital that, around that point, Jones and Coyner had a telephone conversation, which was followed by Jones trying to lighten the mood.
"I genuinely was [asking questions]. I wasn’t attacking you. I was trying to understand your logic."
Coyner disagreed, to which Jones replied, "Yes, I’ve told you this before. Only when people feel pain personally do they move on policy."
In another message to Coyner, Jones considered whether Gilbert and his wife Jennifer were "breeding little fascists."
Garren Shipley, a spokesperson for Coyner's campaign, confirmed the veracity of the texts, saying they were "disturbing and disqualifying for anyone who wants to seek public office."
"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," Shipley said.
Gilbert recently resigned from Richmond to accept President Donald Trump ’s nomination as U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia. He has since left that post, according to reports.
Jones’ comments created a firestorm Friday evening, with another state lawmaker recently subjected to a death threat condemning Jones.
Del. Geary Higgins , R-Lovettsville, said Democrats continue to amp up violent rhetoric that has gotten people hurt.
Tags
Who is online
156 visitors
According to the source, the Democratic former legislator doubled down on the call, saying the only way public policy changes is when policymakers feel pain themselves, like the pain that parents feel when they watch their children die from gun violence. He asked her to provide counterexamples to disprove his claim.
Then at one point, the source said, he suggested he wished Gilbert’s wife could watch her own child die in her arms so that Gilbert might reconsider his political views, prompting Coyner to hang up the phone in disgust.
Afterward, Jones continued his barrage of text messages, saying he was just asking questions. Coyner dismissed his excuse via text and chastised Jones for “hopping [sic] Jennifer Gilbert’s children would die.”
"Then at one point, the source said, he suggested he wished Gilbert’s wife could watch her own child die in her arms"
That sounds like things Hamas does
[✘]
One day after it’s revealed this guy called for the murder of his political opponents children he still remains the Democratic Party nominee to be the chief law enforcement officer of Virginia.
Unbelievable
He remains the candidate because Virginia is already in early voting. As far as I know, there is no mechanism for removing him from the ballot at this point.
Which is why the timing of this "revelation" is suspect.
He absolutely shouldn't have said what he said (note I didn't beat around the bush by using the passive voice "That shouldn't have been said" bullshit). But the Republican legislator who knew he said it conveniently kept that information to herself until the ballots were printed. She showed so much concern for the safety of Gilbert and his family.
Jones is unfit. So is Miyares, as he can't bring himself to criticize Trump regarding the pardon of violent participants in a failed insurrection. Both candidates are ok with violence, when its intended victims are those on the other side of the political aisle.
Both candidates are ok with violence, when its intended victims are those on the other side of the political aisle
Claiming to want the kids of republicans killed is not even close to failing to condemn pardons, and you have to know that. That’s such a desperate equivalency. Pardons are not advocating for murder.
nothing is stopping the state party from calling on him to withdraw or renouncing his candidacy if he doesn’t have the decency to withdraw. The ballots being printed is a red herring,
So, excusing actual violence that happened is not as bad as imagining violence that never happens?
That's a strange sort of morality.
You declaring it such does not make it so. Do you have an explanation for the timing of the revelation? This was dirty politics from Coyner and company. If they were concerned about violence, they would both speak out against violence that actually happened (the failed insurrection) and report any threats they felt were credible (they didn't, until now). They knew what they were doing, and if something had happened to Gilbert or his family at Jones' hands (it didn't happen, unlike the failed insurrection), they would have been responsible for not having spoken out. A risk they were clearly willing to take.
The GOP throws Todd Gilbert under the bus yet again. First, they're ok with Trump firing him as US Attorney after he gave up his position as Speaker of the House in Virginia to take the job, then they're ok with making political hay over the idea of violence against him and his family, which they kept secret. He's gotta be re-examining his loyalties about now.
Yes, electing a chief law enforcement officer who would like to see kids dies in their mothers arms to prove and wants to put two in the head of his political opponents is worse than pardoning people for a riot. If not enforcing maximum penalties against people who riot is disqualifying, I don't think a single democrat would be eligible for office.
This was dirty politics from Coyner and company
That's your issue. That they made these horrible statements public at an inconvenient time? Not the whole "I'd like to see kids die in their mother's arms to teach a lesson?"
Virginia democrats called for a Governor to resign over blackface. Threatening murder and death wishing kids???? That's okay.
You are, again, condoning violence that actually happened over imagined violence that didn't happen.
You're excusing Coyner for not reporting the comments. Had she believed he had any real intentions to kill anybody, she should have reported them. But she didn't, and you're fine with it. Which shows that you're not really concerned that any harm would come to Gilbert or his family. Just as elsewhere, you minimize threats of violence issued by Republicans.
It's all about the political points.
I haven't condoned any violence. I think all rioters who attack police should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, not just rioters who did it on one specific day.
ou're excusing Coyner for not reporting the comments.
Yeah, Imagine being more bothered by someone running for the top law enforcement office in their state who hopes to watch children die in their mother's arms. That's the mark of a rational person isn't it?
Which shows that you're not really concerned that any harm would come to Gilbert or his fami
His texts aren't a crime. Ask the people who brag about knowing from personal experience just how close they can come to threatening someone without it being a crime. He just revealed himself to be a partisan psychopath who has no business being a lawyer, let alone AG.
Stories like this just reveal how fraudulent the democratic criticism of Trump are. The only thing that bothers most Democrats about his behavior is the R after his name, as the reaction to this lunatic demonstrates yet again.
So, you think Miyares is also unfit? He condones the pardons of violent insurrectionists.
It seems you missed this comment from me.
I'm just not going to act like Miyares is any better. Besides his support of political violence by the right, I also have certain knowledge that he has no problem with benefitting personally from violations of the Hatch Act.
I haven't cast my vote yet, and now doubt I'll vote for either of them. Because neither is fit for office.
Virginia voters need to hear this
I don't care for any of the candidates running for Gov, Lt Gov or AG in VA
He was joking. locker room talk.