‘I Am Ashamed’: Democrat Jay Jones Apologizes For Messages About Killing Republican and Watching His Children Die

Democratic Virginia attorney general candidate Jay Jones apologized on Thursday for sending a series of text messages that showed him fantasizing about killing a Republican and watching his children die.

“Tonight, you’re going to hear two very different visions for the future of this commonwealth, and you’re also going to hear from my opponent about text messages that I sent that I deeply, deeply regret,” said Jones during his opening statement at a debate against Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares (R). Jones added:

Let me be very clear – I am ashamed, I am embarrassed, and I am sorry. I am sorry to Speaker Gilbert, I am sorry to his family. I’m sorry to my family and I’m sorry to every single Virginian. I cannot take back what I said, but you have my word that I will always be accountable for my mistakes, and you also have my word that I will spend every waking moment fighting for you.

Now, again, Jason is going to try to make this race about my mistakes, but this race has always been about more. It’s always been about each and every one of you and the future of this commonwealth, and the stakes of this race are too high for it to be about anything else.

Jones then proceeded to attack his opponent.

The attorney general candidate received fierce backlash this month after a series of text messages were leaked showing him endorsing violence and fantasizing about murdering former Virginia House of Delegates speaker Todd Gilbert.

“Gilbert gets two bullets to the head,” wrote Jones in one message to a former colleague after fantasizing about urinating on the graves of dead Republican lawmakers.

“Jay… Please stop,” the former colleague replied. “It really bothers me when you talk about hurting people or wishing death on them… It isn’t ok… No matter who they are.”

In another exchange, Jones’ former colleague expressed discomfort over his remarks about Gilbert’s children.

“You were talking about hopping [sic] jennifer Gilbert’s children would die,” the former colleague complained, to which Jones responded, “Yes, I’ve told you this before. Only when people feel pain personally do they move on policy.”

President Donald Trump called on Jones to “drop out of the Race, IMMEDIATELY” following the release of his “SICK and DEMENTED” text messages, while MSNBC’s Mika Brzezinski also expressed disgust.

Watch above via WAVY-TV 10.