Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears told Newsmax on Monday that 2022 text messages attributed to Democrat Attorney General nominee Jay Jones — in which he allegedly fantasized about violence toward a state Republican lawmaker and his children — reveal a "lack of character."
Earle-Sears told "Carl Higbie FRONTLINE" the messages and the continued support Jones has received from some Democrats underscore a larger problem of violent rhetoric in Virginia politics.
"First off, I cannot think of something more crazy coming from someone running for political office," Earle-Sears said, calling the texts "murderous statements" that should disqualify a candidate whose job would be to defend Virginians in court.
She added that as a military veteran, she would have never advanced someone who spoke that way.
The controversy erupted after reports surfaced that Jones sent the 2022 messages to a GOP lawmaker regarding Todd Gilbert, who was Virginia's House speaker at the time. Jones has since apologized, but the revelations have drawn condemnation from across the aisle and intensified scrutiny of the Democrat ticket.
Earle-Sears linked the tone of Jones' rhetoric to comments from her Democrat opponent in the governor's race, former Rep. Abigail Spanberger, who used the phrase "let your rage fuel you" at a recent campaign event. Earle-Sears suggested that such language, even when meant to energize voters, can inflame tensions and be cited as fodder for political violence.
"Rage to do what? Fuel what? More murder, more mayhem?" Earle-Sears asked.
"Because that's what rage is. It's uncontrollable. And for a person running for governor of our great commonwealth to invigorate her voters like this, it's amazing to me. It's horrible."
Earle-Sears said a statement from the Virginia Beach Democratic Party on Saturday expressing support for Jones was more than a "tacit" endorsement.
"It's not a tacit endorsement. It's an absolute endorsement," she said.
"You have Jay Jones, who has said not only should the sitting elected official be killed, but then also his two children should be killed. I mean ... you can tell I have no words to explain why the Democrats are still behind him and my opponent, Abigail Spanberger.
"All she says is ... she's upset with these words, she's disgusted by the words, but let's move along. No, the man wanted political violence in the form of murder against [Gilbert's] family," Earle-Sears said.
"His family didn't sign up for that. We're talking about children, and this is the best she can do. She cannot be governor."
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