Jay Jones campaign faces scrutiny over wife’s bail fund donation

Virginia attorney general candidate Jay Jones faced a new political crisis Friday after a report revealed that his wife donated to the Minnesota Freedom Fund, a controversial bail organization that uses millions to bail violent criminals out of jail, including accused rapists and murderers.

During the unrest following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May 2020, Posted by Mavis Jones on what was then Twitter: “I donated to the Minnesota Freedom Fund,” he posted, linking to the group’s donation page and urging others to do the same. The account has since been made private.

Revelation first reported by Washington Free SignJones, a Democrat, is trailing Republican incumbent Jason Miyares in a tight race for Virginia’s top law enforcement post. The state’s attorney general oversees state-level investigations and police oversight.

The Minnesota Freedom Fund was supported by many progressive figures at the time, including Sen. Kamala Harris raised more than $41 million during the 2020 protests and pledged support for demonstrators arrested during clashes with police. But one FOX 9 investigation He later discovered that the group spent most of its money bailing out defendants accused of serious violent crimes rather than low-level protest crimes.

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Among those granted bail was twice-convicted rapist Christopher Boswell, who faces new kidnapping and assault charges; Fund was released after posting $350,000 cash bail.

The group also paid $100,000 to release Darnika Floyd, who was charged with second-degree murder, and $75,000 to Jaleel Stallings, who allegedly shot at the Minneapolis SWAT team before being acquitted at trial.

Greg Lewin, the fund’s interim executive director, told FOX 9 that same year: “The last time we were there the staff member said, ‘We hate it when you rescue these sex offenders.’ he said. “When I save someone, most of the time I don’t even look at blaming them.”

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Darnika Floyd, who was charged with second-degree murder, was released after the Minnesota Freedom Fund posted $100,000 bail in 2020. (Minnesota Department of Corrections)

In one case, the fund paid the bail of career criminal George Howard, who was accused of fatally shooting a man in a traffic fight in Minneapolis just weeks after his release.

The news adds to another round of controversy for Jones, 35, who has already apologized for violent text messages directed at Republican leaders. In one exchange, he wrote that then-House Speaker Todd Gilbert had “two bullets in the head” and that Gilbert’s wife, Jennifer, had to “watch her children die.”

Mavis Jones, wife of scandal-plagued Virginia AG candidate Jay Jones (D-Va.), reportedly posted about her 2020 support for the Minnesota Freedom Fund, which rescues accused murderers and rapists. (Jay Jones via X)

Court records also show Jones was convicted of careless driving in 2022 for going 186 mph on a Virginia highway. He was fined $1,500 and ordered to perform 1,000 hours of community service; But a state ethics review is examining whether hours he spent volunteering for his political committee should count toward the sentence.

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The latest debate provides Miyares and the Republicans with new fodder in the closing weeks of the campaign. A. Trafalgar Group survey The poll, released on October 17, revealed that Miyares was ahead by 49.5% to 44.6%; This was a contrast to previous polls, which had Jones ahead by six points before the text scandal emerged.

As of Friday, Mavis Jones has set her X account to private.

The Minnesota Freedom Fund and the Jay Jones campaign did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.