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By Kate Plummer
Senior US News Reporter
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Democratic Virginia attorney general candidate Jay Jones was convicted of reckless driving in 2022.
According to local court records, Jones, an attorney who served in the House of Delegates from 2018 to 2022, drove 46 miles per hour over the speed limit on January 21, 2022, resulting in a driving conviction.
Jones said in a statement on Tuesday: "Several years ago, I made the mistake of speeding, for which I am regretful. I accepted responsibility for my actions, paid the fine, and fulfilled my responsibility to the court, which was accepted by the New Kent County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office and the judge."
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Newsweek reached out to Jones to comment on this story outside of normal business hours.
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Why It Matters
Jones—who is preparing to face the incumbent attorney general, Republican Jason Miyares, in the upcoming election—has come under increasing scrutiny after leaked texts revealed he previously suggested a former Virginia House speaker should receive "two bullets to the head." Jones apologized for the texts but he has since fallen in the polls.
Further negative information that comes to light about Jones could have a huge impact on the race and boost Republican chances of success, thus impacting the future of legislation and policy in the state.
What To Know
According to the records, cited by multiple local outlets, Jones was pulled over at 12:55 a.m. on January 21, 2022 on Interstate 64. He was driving at 116 miles per hour, 46 miles per hour over the speed limit.
He paid a $1,500 fine and completed 1,000 hours of community service—500 of which were for his own political action committee, Meet Our Moment—according to documents from Jones' attorney provided to local press. The other 500 hours were done at the NAACP Virginia State Conference, the records showed. Newsweek could not independently verify these documents.
Meanwhile, the controversy comes after the publication earlier this month of texts sent to Republican State Delegate Carrie Coyner in August 2022, which reportedly spoke about shooting then-Virginia House Speaker Todd Gilbert, a Republican.
"Gilbert, hitler, and pol pot," Jones wrote, in texts first reported by National Review. "Gilbert gets two bullets to the head."
In the wake of their publication on October 3, Jones' polling has suffered. According to an internal poll for the Jones conducted by Hart Research Associates and reported by The New York Post, Jones is leading Miyares 46 percent to 45 percent. The poll of 600 Virginia voters was conducted between October 4 and 6 and shows his lead declining from previous polling.
What People Are Saying
During a debate with Miyares at the University of Richmond on Thursday, Jones said: "Several years ago, I made very grave mistakes, but I was held accountable not just by the people in my party, but the Virginia State Police."
Miyares said in a statement: "Instead of taking accountability for his actions, it appears that my opponent submitted a letter to the Court stating that he performed 500 hours of ‘community service’ for his own Political Action Committee, which is not a charitable organization under the Virginia Code, to dodge potential jail time."
President Donald Trump on Truth Social: "Radical Left Lunatic, Jay Jones … made SICK and DEMENTED jokes, if they were jokes at all, which were not funny, and that he wrote down and sent around to people, concerning the murdering of a Republican Legislator, his wife, and their children."
What Happens Next
The election takes place on November 4 and early voting is underway. As well as choosing attorney general, voters are electing a governor, lieutenant governor and all 100 seats in the House of Delegates.
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