Sanders is silent on whether the nominee should be disqualified for violent messages
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Sen. Bernie Sanders, R-Va., and top Democrats declined to answer whether they believe Virginia’s Democratic attorney general nominee, Jay Jones, should withdraw over violent text messages he sent in which he fantasizes about killing a Republican opponent.
Virginia’s attorney general race, and his governor’s race, have been shaken by recent revelations that Jones, a former Democratic member of the Virginia House of Delegates, made several violent statements, including saying he wanted to shoot then-Speaker of the Virginia House of Representatives Todd Gilbert.
Although some Democrats, including Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger, have condemned Jones’ messages, Sanders, perhaps the loudest progressive voice in America, ignored Fox News Digital’s question about the texts and simply withdrew.
Another prominent progressive, Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, D-Md., also ignored Fox News Digital’s questions about Jones, turning her back on the reporter and getting into the elevator.
More Democrats avoid Virginia candidate’s ‘two bullets’ scandal
Sen. Bernie Sanders, R-Va., (left) refused to answer whether Virginia gubernatorial candidate Jay Jones (right) should withdraw because of the violent messages he sent. (Joe Maher, Maxine Wallace/The Washington Post/Getty Images)
Sen. Andy Kim, D-N.J., offered some answers, saying: “I’ll be honest with you, I don’t remember exactly what he said, but at least the thoughts I got, I thought it was terrible, I really remember it.”
“I don’t know the dynamics of the race, as I’m focused right now on the New Jersey governor’s race. So, I can’t say I did my due diligence to really understand that, but what I will say is what I saw was absolutely horrific,” Kim added.
Kim also said, “I hope that right now where there is so much concern about political violence. We can say that, yes, we need to make sure that we hold ourselves to high standards, especially those who hold elected office.”
When asked if he could say whether Jones should withdraw from the race after those violent text messages, Sen. John Hickenlooper, Democrat of Colorado, replied: “I can’t. I have to go.”
Democrats side with Virginia AG optimist who fantasized about killing GOP lawmaker
Virginia Attorney General candidate Jay Jones was convicted of reckless driving in 2022. (Craig Hudson for The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Sen. Tina Smith, Democrat of Minnesota, had a similar response, saying: “No, I’m getting a briefing right now,” while a staffer said: “You’re welcome to reach out to her office though.”
In text messages with another lawmaker, Jones wrote: “Three people, two bullets. Gilbert, Hitler and Pol Pot. Gilbert was shot twice in the head.”
In a later script, Jones wrote, “Spoiler: Put Gilbert in the crew with the two worst people you know and he’ll take two bullets every time.”
In another text exchange with a colleague, Jones said he hoped Gilbert’s children would die. He doubled down on his message in a series of messages, saying such grief could be a “good thing” if it led to progress in his policies.
Liberal media downplays DEM Virginia AG scandal brimming with Jay Jones texts that fantasize about killing GOP lawmaker
Although the revelation of the text shocked the public and upended Virginia’s election, several Democrats questioned by Fox News Digital declined to address the scandal or say whether they believe Jones should be removed from the race.
When asked if Jones should withdraw from his race, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse replied, “I haven’t thought about it.”
When asked if he had read the text messages, which have caused massive political fallout in Virginia’s already close election, Whitehouse said: “I haven’t read them.”
Senior Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., responded simply, “I don’t have time right now,” and continued to walk away.
Joe Scarborough tells Democratic candidate Jay Jones to leave the race over violent comments against the GOP lawmaker
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff then gave a television interview at the Capitol on July 26, 2021. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
Speaking with Fox News Digital, Republican Senator from Texas, Ted Cruz, described the silence of Democratic senators as “astonishing, especially with the wave of political violence that we have witnessed.”
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“In my view, the idea that someone would advocate killing children because they disagree politically with their father is clearly inappropriate for a public office, especially a top law enforcement official in Virginia, and I wish there was a single Democrat who had the courage to say that publicly,” Cruz said.