WASHINGTON– The Republican Attorneys General Association’s (RAGA) Executive Board today called on the Democratic Attorneys General Association (DAGA) to immediately suspend all financial and political support for Jay Jones, the Democrat candidate for Virginia Attorney General.
Jones is at the center of this year’s biggest political scandal following the disturbing revelation that he sent graphically violent text messages —during the commemoration ceremony of a deceased former member of the Virginia House of Delegates. Instead of embracing this solemn occasion where Democrats and Republicans banded together, Jones fantasized about killing the “evil” Republican Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates, going to a funeral to “piss on the grave” of a legislative colleague, and wished that the Speaker’s wife would watch her own children die in her arms. Jay Jones also called the Speaker’s children “little fascists.”
Less than one year ago, all 50 state attorneys general —which included all members of RAGA and DAGA— spoke in a unified voice against political violence. As part of this rare, bipartisan declaration, the attorneys general stated, “violence has no place in the democratic process; we will exercise our authority to enforce the law against any illegal acts that threaten it.” Democrat AGs must stand by their words or risk their integrity and a total loss of the public’s trust.
Since Friday, dozens of national leaders, including President Trump, Vice President Vance, and Speaker Johnson, have called on Jay Jones to drop out. Over the weekend, Rise Hayes, a Democrat candidate for the Virginia House of Delegates refused to campaign with Jones and referred to his political donations as “blood money.” This morning, the host of MSNBC’s Morning Joe said Jones “should probably be forced to withdraw from the race.” It’s time for Democrat AGs and their political arm, DAGA, to show accountability and suspend all financial and political support for Jay Jones, including pulling previously booked ads.
“Actions speak louder than words and DAGA’s silence on Jay Jones speaks volumes,” said Kansas Attorney General and RAGA Chairman Kris Kobach. “If Democrats are serious about joining Republican calls to tone down the rhetoric that led to political violence killing both Charlie Kirk and legislators in Minnesota this year, DAGA will withdraw their support of Jay Jones.”
“Democrats like Jay Jones have to stop calling Republicans fascists and comparing us to Hitler,” said Alan Wilson, South Carolina Attorney General and RAGA Vice Chairman. “This type of violent political rhetoric —not only endorsed by, but spoken by Jay Jones, an elected official— is what encourages and emboldens people like Charlie Kirk’s murderer to take the most extreme and deadly measures. DAGA must condemn these text messages and withdraw their support of Jay Jones.”
“Jay Jones’ text messages further prove he is not the right candidate to serve as Virginia’s attorney general,” said Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen. “His behavior is unacceptable and reprehensible. Virginians deserve a leader who will act in the best interest of Republicans and Democrats alike. The Democrat Attorneys General Association (DAGA) should immediately suspend its support of Jones, and he should drop out of the race.”
“The content of Jay Jones’ text messages is abhorrent, but the context makes them worse,” Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers commented. “He sent these messages while Republicans and Democrats were eulogizing a former Virginia Delegate, a Democrat known for working across the aisle. Jones rejected the bipartisanship of the moment, and ultimately the humanity of his colleagues, by sending texts talking about desecrating legislators’ graves, and shooting the House Speaker, and his hope that the Speaker witness his own children dying. This is evil and feeds poison into our political culture. DAGA should send a statement that it does not support those who push a culture of political assassination and remove its support of Jones immediately.”
Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch added, “It is never acceptable to promote violence. That is not how people expect their leaders to settle political differences. Jay Jones demonstrated an appalling lack of judgment and if he has any decency, he will drop out of the race for Virginia Attorney General. Virginians deserve a chief law enforcement officer that treats all human beings with respect and can lead with ideas and civility.”
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall said, “Jay Jones and his allies are trying to write off his abhorrent text messages about political violence as a regrettable joke. However, in the same string of messages, Jones defended his machination, saying the death of his political rival and his children would be justified because people only move on policy when they feel pain personally. The seriousness with which Jones spoke about putting bullets in the head of his political rival is disqualifying and should not be rewarded with financial and political support from DAGA. Virginians should reject his behavior just as strongly. There is no place for Jay Jones in public service or in any political movement that claims to value decency and accountability.”
Read Jay Jones’ texts at www.jayjonestexts.com.