Oct. 6, 2025, Fairfax, Va.—Americans for Limited Government Executive Director Robert Romano today issued the following statement urging Jay Jones to drop out of the Attorney General race in Virginia:
“Democrats’ failure to condemn Jay Jones’ abominable advocacy in 2022 of assassinating the Republican leader in the Virginia House of Delegates and urge he withdraw from the Attorney General race is horrifying. This is not only disqualifying, advocacy of violence and assassinations is a dangerous and radicalizing message increasingly being sent to young people. There is only one response. Jay Jones should step down. If Jones felt comfortable enough to write this to Republican Delegate Carrie Coyner and then call her after she said to stop to wish death on the Republican leader’s children too to convince Republicans to act against gun violence — clearly an act of political intimidation — then the normalization of violence passing off as political rhetoric is reaching critical levels in our nation even among pubic officials. This is disgraceful.
“Threatening public office holders is also a crime. Under § 18.2-60 of the Code of Virginia, ‘Any person 18 years of age or older who communicates a threat in writing… to another to kill or to do serious bodily injury to any other person and makes such threat with the intent to … influence the conduct or activities of a government, including the government of the United States, a state, or a locality, through intimidation … is guilty of a Class 5 felony.’ The penalty could go up to 10 years in prison. Now, whether what Jones did meets the legal threshold for prosecution or not, he clearly went right up to the line of what is legally allowable. How can Jay Jones be Attorney General under these circumstances? This is insane.
“In 2024, following the attempted assassination of President Trump, Jay Jones wrote on X ‘Political violence has no place in our country… This should never happen under any circumstances in America.’ And advocates of political violence like Jones have no place in public office, representing Virginia or any other state, under any circumstances.
“Except apparently when power is at stake. Then, it doesn’t matter. Maybe because there’s no time to replace Jones on the ballot. But Jones clearly knows better, just read his statements about political violence. If Jones is allowed to remain in the race, the message will be that threatening violence against public officials is okay and is rewarded. Is that the right message for young people? Anyone unwilling to fully condemn threatening and intimidating public officials, and call for Jones to step down is similarly unqualified to lead the Commonwealth. How can anyone trust the legal actions of an attorney general who openly threatens and intimidates sitting members of Virginia’s legislature?
“When there is mixed government where both parties share power as in Virginia— just what the Framers of the Constitution intended — nothing much happening except for a few compromises around the edges is all that is to be expected. It’s not supposed to be easy to pass legislation or get things done. Our system is we resolve our differences with elections, not by threatening violence.”
Attachments:
Jay Jones Statements Against Political Violence
Sept. 25: “Violence in any and all forms is unacceptable in Virginia. No person working to represent their community should face death threats.” https://x.com/jonesjay/status/1971321103537799225
Sept. 10: “I’m horrified to hear the news that Charlie Kirk was shot. This is a disturbing act of violence that has no place in our communities. No matter who you are or what you believe, we must protect the freedom to speak, debate, and disagree without fear. I’m praying for Charlie and his family today.” https://x.com/jonesjay/status/1965862516065542151
July 30: “There is no place for any kind of violence or hate in Virginia.” https://x.com/jonesjay/status/1950625012383146041
July 13, 2024, the day President Trump was almost assassinated: “Political violence has no place in our country. We are lucky for the extraordinary bravery of the Secret Service and local law enforcement as they took swift action to defuse this unfortunate situation. This should never happen under any circumstances in America.” https://x.com/jonesjay/status/1812282200479469857
For media availability contact Americans for Limited Government at media@limitgov.org.
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