Tim Kaine defends Jay Jones despite texts about murdering Republican

Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, Democrat, former Del. from Norfolk, Virginia, as Commonwealth’s Attorney candidate’s campaign unmasks Jones after texts surfaced predicting the killing of a top Republican He defended Jay Jones.

Pressed ahead of a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Tuesday, Kaine said Jones’ comments were “indefensible” but that he was “still a supporter” of her candidacy against incumbent Republican Attorney General Jason Miyates.

“Jay apologized,” Kaine said.

“I’ve known Jay Jones for 25 years,” he said. “I think those statements were out of character and he apologized – I hope other people in public life would sincerely apologize.”

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Asked if Jones’ debate would affect other Democrats on the ballot, Kaine said the situation was a “significant challenge” for Jones but did not think it would affect other races.

“I think he needs to explain it in a way that Virginia can see who he really is,” Kaine said.

Former Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., is Lt. Gov. in the governor’s race. Winsome leads the ticket against Earle-Sears and Democratic State Sen. Ghazala Hashmi faces Conservative Commentator John Reid for Lt. Governor.

Fox News later followed up with Kaine to ask him definitively whether he believed Jones should leave.

“Yes, I answered the question correctly and I don’t think I can improve on the first answer,” Kaine said.

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Jones, apparently by mistake, Virginia Del. Carrie Coyner, R-Chester, received a message about then-host speaker Todd Gilbert and about Gilbert’s friendship with the recently deceased Democratic Party elder.

The texts were first revealed to National Review on Friday and later confirmed to Fox News Digital by multiple Richmond, Virginia, sources.

Jones said the late state Sen. Joe Johnson, D-Bristol, “leaked” Democratic trends to Gilbert and the GOP Caucus: “If they die before me, I’m going to go to their funerals to pee on their graves. Shake them up in something.”

Virginia AG candidate once referenced putting two bullets in GOP leader’s head, Texts Show

Jones later stated that Gilbert, R-Shenandoah, had only two bullets for Cambodian Khmer Rouge Dictator Pol Pot and former German Chancellor Adolf Hitler and the Executioner.

“Spoiler: Put Gilbert in the crew with the two worst people you know, and he takes both bullets every time.”

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He claimed that Gilbert and his wife Jennifer were “raising little fascists.” The Gilberts have two young children.

Since the texts were sent in 2022, Gilbert resigned from the House of Delegates to briefly accept President Donald Trump’s nomination to be U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia, based in Roanoke. He has since left that position as well.

The texts came a week after documents from New Kent County showed Jones was accused of reckless driving on a notorious straight-arrow streak of Virginia’s Interstate 64 between Williamsburg and Richmond in the middle of the night.

Jones avoided a typical one-year prison sentence by submitting 1,000 community service hours, split between his political PAC and the Virginia chapter of the NAACP.

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A new Kent County, Virginia, resident told Fox News Digital that it is not uncommon for traffic-related offenses to be prosecuted with no jail time for the defendant during the Covid-19 ERA amid concerns of capacity and space for more serious offenders.

Jones will face Miyares, whom Firestorm is sure will be a top challenge, Oct. 16 at the University of Richmond in Henrico, Virginia.

Fox News’ Dan Scully contributed to this report.