RICHMOND, Va. (AP) – Virginia Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares and Democratic challenger Jay Jones sparred Thursday over a number of legal issues, including criminal prosecution, consumer protection and unlawful discrimination, in their first and only debate. However, one problem overshadowed everything. jones’ leaked text messages Supporting political violence against former colleagues.
Miyares, an incumbent Republican who is running for re-election. pushed hard Jones was critical of his suggestion in a text message to Republican delegates in 2022 that they should give former Virginia Republican House Speaker Todd Gilbert “two bullets to the head.”
Miyares began the discussion by quoting President Abraham Lincoln, saying, “Character is what you do in the dark when no one is looking. But now we know what he[Jones]was doing in the dark.”
Mr. Jones apologized from the beginning for his comments.
“Let me be clear,” he said. “I’m embarrassed, I’m embarrassed, I’m sorry.”
Still, Democrats rejected Mr. Miyares, noting that they hear violent language from both sides of the aisle and that President Donald Trump is known to use language such as: extreme language sometimes.
“What about when Donald Trump used inflammatory language to incite a riot to overturn an election here in this country?” Jones added, “You didn’t say anything. I took responsibility for my mistakes, and it’s time for you to take responsibility, too.”
Virginia’s attorney general race has emerged as one of the most intense statewide contests of this year’s election, with lawmakers from both parties competing in close races. interest In the down vote race. Straight ticket voting is not an option in Virginia, which requires voters to: choose a candidate in a statewide contest.
meanwhile Republican Winsome Earl Sears He is facing setbacks in the gubernatorial race. john reedthe Republican candidate for lieutenant governor, and the attorney general race remain fiercely competitive. The issue spilled over into the gubernatorial race last week, when Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger, a former state representative, refused to say during a debate whether she still supports him. Mr. Jones’ candidacysuggests that it is for voters to decide.
Jones and Miyares tangled over violent text messages for much of the debate. Mr. Miyares said Mr. Jones’ email about the shooting of a prominent Republican disqualified him from being a candidate for Virginia’s top prosecutor.
Jones, on the other hand, spent much of his time arguing that Miyares didn’t have the guts to sue. white house If the Trump administration goes too far.
“Jason is hanging out with Donald Trump at a MAGA rally,” Jones said. “As your next attorney general, you will see Jason Miyares and Donald Trump on the court.”
The candidates also addressed other legal issues likely to involve the attorney general’s office, including enforcement of Virginia’s clean energy law and the scope of the Virginia Human Rights Act, a state law that prohibits discrimination.
Mr. Miyares and Mr. Jones also traded jabs about which candidate would do a better job of keeping Virginians safe. Miyares cited a Richmond Times article in which a Virginia state trooper clocked Jones at a speed of 116 miles per hour, and argued that Jones lacked the experience to hold criminals accountable.
Jones touted his record as a representative in the Virginia House of Representatives and said he supports legislation to crack down on sex offenders and human traffickers. He also cited his experience tracking down ghost gun manufacturers while working for the District of Columbia’s attorney general’s office.
At one point, the Virginia State Bar host asked the candidates how they viewed the attorney general’s office as a political or legal office.
“This is clearly legal and that’s why we have to hold the president accountable and hold Donald Trump and this administration accountable for their wrongdoings,” Jones responded enthusiastically.
Mr. Miyares dodged the question, saying his office was meant to protect Virginians.
“Jay Jones wants a game 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 is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
