Explosive texts have exposed Democratic Attorney General candidate Jay Jones gloating about the idea of putting ‘two bullets’ through the head of the Virginia House Speaker.
In a private 2022 exchange with Republican Delegate Carrie Coyner, the attorney general nominee shockingly suggested that his political rival, then-House Speaker Todd Gilbert, deserved to be brutally murdered.
‘Three people, two bullets,’ Jones wrote in the text obtained by Fox News. ‘Gilbert, Hitler, and Pol Pot.’
‘Gilbert gets two bullets to the head,’ the former member of the Virginia House of Delegates continued.
‘Spoiler: put Gilbert in the crew with the two worst people you know and he receives both bullets every time.’
The alarming revelation ignited fury across party lines – with even Democrats condemning the remarks – as the Republican Attorneys General Association demands that Jones drop out of the race against incumbent AG Jason Miyares, CNN reported.
‘What he said was not just disturbing but disqualifying for anyone who wants to seek public office,’ Coyner told the outlet.
‘Jay Jones wished violence on the children of a colleague and talked about shooting Todd Gilbert,’ she added. ‘It’s disgusting and unbecoming of any public official.’
Explosive texts exposed Democratic attorney general candidate Jay Jones (pictured) gloating about the idea of putting ‘two bullets’ through the head of then-Virginia House Speaker Todd Gilbert
In a private 2022 exchange with Republican Delegate Carrie Coyner (pictured), the attorney general nominee shockingly suggested that his political rival, then-House Speaker Gilbert, deserved to be brutally murdered
During the phone call, Jones allegedly doubled down in the exchange, fantasizing about a scenario with ‘two bullets’ and vowing he’d shoot Gilbert (pictured) ‘every time’ – despite having two dictators hypothetically in front of him
The explosive damning messages came to light Friday after they were reviewed by National Review.
On August 2, 2022, Jones appeared to accidentally send Coyner a text mocking Republicans for their ‘glowing tributes’ to the late Delegate Joe Johnson, 90 – noting that even Gilbert joined in the praise.
Jones, 36, quickly followed up with another text: ‘Damn, that message was for Mark.’
Even after realizing he’d sent the message to the wrong person, he kept venting to Coyner, sneering at what ‘that POS’ Gilbert ‘would say about me if I died.’
‘If those guys die before me, I will go to their funerals to p*** on their graves,’ the politician continued. ‘Send them out awash in something.’
Coyner replied with a terse, ‘Jay Jones’ – seemingly scolding him for the disturbing direction his messages had taken.
Rather than pull back, Jones doubled down in the exchange, fantasizing about a scenario with ‘two bullets’ and vowing he’d shoot Gilbert ‘every time’ – despite having two dictators hypothetically in front of him, according to the messages.
Jones’ former colleague quickly intervened, writing ‘please stop,’ while he responded with a casual, ‘Lol. Ok, ok.’
During a call with Coyner, Jones allegedly expressed that he wished Gilbert’s wife could see her own child die in her arms, hoping it would make Gilbert rethink his right-wing political stance (pictured: text exchange)
A source claimed that on the phone call, Jones said that policymakers only act when they feel pain – likening it to the grief parents endure when their children are killed by gun violence (pictured: Gilbert and family)
Undeterred, Jones kept texting Coyner (pictured), insisting he was only asking simple questions
‘It really bothers me when you talk about hurting people or wishing death on them,’ Coyner wrote.
‘It isn’t okay,’ she added. ‘No matter who they are.’
According to a source familiar with the matter, the two later spoke on the phone, where Jones reportedly tried to ease the tension, as reported by Fox News Digital.
Jones allegedly doubled down yet again during the call, claiming that policymakers only act when they feel pain – likening it to the grief parents endure when their children are killed by gun violence, according to National Review.
According to the source, the AG candidate pressed her to come up with counterexamples to challenge him, but he instead took the discussion to an even darker place.
The source said Jones allegedly expressed that he wished Gilbert’s wife could see her own child die in her arms, hoping it would make Gilbert rethink his right-wing political stance.
Coyner then reportedly ended the call in utter disgust.
Undeterred, Jones continued texting, insisting he was only asking simple questions – a claim Coyner strongly disagreed with.
The alarming revelation has ignited fury across party lines – with even Democrats condemning the remarks – as the Republican Attorneys General Association demands that Jones (pictured) drop out of the race against incumbent AG Jason Miyares
‘I wasn’t attacking you, I was trying to understand your logic,’ Jones said in the texts.
The Republican delegate fired back, scolding him: ‘You weren’t trying to understand. You were talking about hoping Jennifer Gilbert’s children would die.’
‘Yes, I’ve told you his before. Only when people feel pain personally do they move on policy,’ Jones responded, admitting to his heinous wish.
Despite increasing backlash, Jones pressed on with his attacks, again directing them at the children of the Republican politician.
‘I mean do I think Todd and Jennifer are evil? And that they’re breeding little fascists? Yes,’ he told Coyner, according to the messages.
His comments sparked a firestorm, with many in the political sphere warning that escalating violent rhetoric has already resulted in people being harmed.
Del. Geary Higgins told Fox News: ‘They shot the president. They killed Charlie Kirk. They threatened to kill Kim Taylor. They said they’d kill me at my next rally, then my kids.’
‘Is this what “letting your rage fuel you” looks like?’ he added.
Initially, Jones never denied the wording in the texts, and instead, lashed out at his GOP rival, Jason Miyares – accusing him of ‘dropping smears’ to destroy his name (pictured: Gilbert and family)
In a later statement, Jones admitted feeling ‘sick’ over his remarks and said he has since apologized to Gilbert (pictured with wife) and his family
Democratic colleague Abigail Spanberger said she confronted Jones ‘frankly’ after the texts came to light, expressing her ‘disgust’ at the violent language he employed, according to the outlet.
‘I will always condemn violent language in our politics,’ she said.
Initially, Jones never denied the wording in the years-old texts – instead, he lashed out at his GOP rival, Jason Miyares, accusing him of ‘dropping smears’ to destroy his name.
‘Like all people, I’ve sent text messages that I regret and I believe that violent rhetoric has no place in our politics,’ Jones said in a statement to the Virginia Scope.
‘Let’s be clear about what is happening in the Attorney General race right now: Jason Miyares is dropping smears through Trump-controlled media organizations to assault my character and rescue his desperate campaign,’ he added.
‘This is a strategy that ensures Jason Miyares will continue to be accountable to Donald Trump, not the people of Virginia. This race is about whether Trump can control Virginia or Virginians control Virginia.’
In a later statement to WRIC 8 News, Jones finally admitted feeling ‘sick’ over his remarks and said he has since apologized to Gilbert and his family.
‘I’m sick to my stomach when I read those words,’ Jones told the outlet.
‘Certainly they’re objectionable, they’re abhorrent, they have no place in Virginia, no place in this country’s discourse. Again, I am so deeply, deeply sorry,’ he added.
‘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.’
Despite the controversy, Jones has no plans to end his campaign. He did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Daily Mail.