Virginia AG candidate Jones apologizes for violent texts about Gilbert

Jay Jones, the Democratic nominee for Virginia attorney general, apologized Friday after resurfaced 2022 text messages in which he appeared to fantasize about shooting then-House Speaker Todd Gilbert and suggested the deaths of Gilbert’s children. The messages, sent in August 2022 and confirmed by the recipient, have prompted sharp criticism from Republicans and rebukes from some Democrats, and come as another disclosure showed Jones avoided jail time for a January 2022 reckless-driving conviction by completing community service, court records show.

The text exchange, sent to Republican former Delegate Carrie Coyner, included a line saying, "Three people, two bullets. Gilbert, Hitler, and Pol Pot. Gilbert gets two bullets to the head," and other passages in which Jones wrote that Gilbert would "receive both bullets every time." Coyner responded that the language was troubling and disqualifying for anyone seeking public office. Jones later called Coyner during the exchange, according to her representatives, and the texts continued after the call.

Jones issued a statement saying he takes "full responsibility" and offered an apology. "Reading back those words made me sick to my...