RICHMOND, VIRGINIA– RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia’s Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares and his Democratic challenger Jay Jones sparred over a host of legal issues Thursday in their first and only debate: criminal prosecutions, consumer protections and illegal discrimination. But there was one thing that overshadowed everything: the Jones case. Leaked text messages Endorsing political violence toward a former colleague.
Miyares, the current Republican candidate for re-election, I pushed hard Against Jones because he suggested to a Republican delegate in 2022 text messages that former Virginia Republican House Speaker Todd Gilbert should take “two bullets to the head.”
Referring to a quote by President Abraham Lincoln, Miyares began the discussion by saying, “Character is what you do in the dark when no one’s watching. But now we know what (Jones) was doing in the dark.”
Jones apologized for his words from the beginning.
“Let me be very clear,” he said. “I’m ashamed, I’m embarrassed, and I’m sorry.”
However, the Democrat pushed back on Miyares by pointing out that violent rhetoric can be heard on both sides of the aisle, and that President Donald Trump has been known to use it. Extreme language Sometimes.
“What about when Donald Trump used incendiary language to incite a riot to try to overturn the election here in this country?” “You didn’t say a word,” Jones said, adding, “You took responsibility for my mistakes. It’s time you took responsibility, too.”
The race for Virginia’s attorney general has emerged as one of the most competitive statewide contests in this year’s elections, with members of both parties running. interest In a down ballot race. Direct voting is not an option in Virginia, which requires voters to do so Selection of candidates In every state level competition.
while Republican Winson Earl Sears She faced setbacks in her race for governor, as it happened John Reedthe Republican Party’s nominee for lieutenant governor, the attorney general’s race remains hotly competitive. Last week, the issue spilled over into the state’s governor’s race when former U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate, refused to say during a debate whether she still supports Jones nominationWhich suggests that it is up to voters to decide.
Jones and Miyares tangled over the violent text message for most of the discussion. The way Miyares said it, Jones’ letters about the shooting of a prominent Republican disqualified him from the race to be Virginia’s lead prosecutor.
Jones, in turn, spent most of his time arguing that Miyares lacked the courage to take the case to court The White House If the Trump administration oversteps.
“Jason hangs out with Donald Trump at MAGA rallies,” Jones said. “I will see Jason Miyares and Donald Trump on the court as the next Attorney General.”
The nominees addressed other legal issues potentially relevant to the attorney general’s office, including the application of Virginia’s Clean Energy Act and the scope of the Virginia Human Rights Act, a state law that prohibits discrimination.
Miyares and Jones also traded jabs over which candidate could do a better job of keeping Virginians safe. Miyares argued that Jones lacked the experience needed to hold criminals accountable, citing a Richmond Times-Dispatch story about a Virginia state trooper clocking Jones at 116 mph.
For his part, Jones praised his record as a delegate in the Virginia House of Representatives, where he said he supports legislation that takes tough action against sex offenders and human trafficking. He also cited his experience prosecuting ghost gun manufacturers while working for the District of Columbia U.S. Attorney’s Office.
At one point, a moderator from the Virginia State Bar asked the candidates how they viewed the district attorney’s office — as a political or legal office.
“It’s clearly a legal case, and that’s exactly why we have to hold the president accountable, and go after Donald Trump and the misdeeds of this administration,” Jones responded eagerly.
Miyares ignored the question, saying the office exists to protect Virginians.
“Jay Jones wants fights in Washington,” he said. “He’s running for the wrong office.”
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Olivia Diaz is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America It is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.