Mark Earley Jr., the delegate for Virginia’s 73rd District, is calling for Democratic attorney general candidate Jay Jones to withdraw from the race following the release of 2022 private text messages in which Jones joked about executing former House Speaker Todd Gilbert and wishing death on Gilbert’s children.
Earley is among a group of Republican lawmakers calling for Jones to exit the race and criticizing Democratic leaders who have not addressed the matter publicly.
“We in Virginia all personally know Todd Gilbert, his wife, & his kids,” Earley told the Gateway Reporter. “This is so far beyond the pale that it’s completely disqualifying. And it’s also disqualifying for anyone who stands by in silence. We cannot have an Attorney General who believes these things. The Attorney General is the lead lawyer for the state, with public safety being a top priority. Jay Jones simply can’t fill that role.”
The leaked texts, exchanged with Republican Del. Carrie Coyner, included Jones writing, “Three people, two bullets Gilbert, hitler, and pol pot. Gilbert gets two bullets to the head. Spoiler: put Gilbert in the crew with the two worst people you know and he receives both bullets every time.”
Another read, “If those guys die before me I will go to their funerals to piss on their graves.”
When Coyner responded, “It really bothers me when you talk about hurting people or wishing death on them,” Jones replied, “Lol / Ok, ok,” and later said, “I’ve told you this before. Only when people feel pain personally do they move on policy.”
Jones also wrote, “Do I think Todd and Jennifer are evil? And that they’re breeding little fascists? Yes.”
Additional comments attributed to Jones have also surfaced, including one allegedly made during a 2020 policy discussion. In that conversation, Jones reportedly said police might change their behavior if more officers were killed.
“Well, maybe if a few of them died, that they would move on, not shooting people, not killing people,” Jones allegedly said.
Jones has denied making that statement, according to the New York Post.
Earley, an attorney, small business owner, and foster and adoptive parent, said Jones’s rhetoric—and what he described as a lack of response from Democratic leaders—reflects a shift in political discourse.
“There was a time when comments like Jones’ would’ve received immediate and universal condemnation — those across the political spectrum would repudiate them and agree that they’re disqualifying,” Earley said. “Sadly, it appears we’re no longer in that time. Far too many – elected officials, candidates, party officials, and Democrat committees – have remained silent in the face of this actual violence, and these threats of violence. In doing so, they tacitly endorse this kind of rhetoric and the consequences that inevitably result from comments such as these. Anyone who advocates or violence or stays silent in its face has no business in elected office.”
Jones has publicly apologized, calling the messages “a grave mistake” and saying he is “embarrassed, ashamed and sorry.” He said he has contacted Gilbert’s family to apologize.
Earley is seeking re-election in 2025 and is being challenged by Democrat Leslie Mehta, who has not publicly commented on the controversy. Earley also criticized Mehta for not addressing the issue.
“Not one prominent Democrat in Virginia has asked Jay Jones to withdraw from the race, not one,” Earley said. “My opponent, Leslie Mehta, has said nothing. The current Democratic speaker of the House called these text messages merely a distraction. Several Democratic Committees issued statements downplaying the comments and re-affirming their support for Jay Jones.”
Mehta has previously referred to Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin as a “MAGA extremist” during campaign events.
Republican leaders have continued to criticize Jones. Youngkin said on social media, “There is no ‘Gosh, I’m sorry’ here. Jones doesn’t have the morality or character to drop out of this race.”
Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, who is running to succeed Youngkin as governor, said Jones is “consumed with hate” and accused him of encouraging “rage politics.”
Attorney General Jason Miyares, whom Jones is running to unseat, addressed the matter in an open letter.
“Jay Jones wished for the violent death of a political opponent and then fantasized about that opponent’s children dying in their mother’s arms,” Miyares said. “When confronted, he doubled down, saying that kind of grief and pain would be a good thing if it advanced his politics. And politics aside, one has to be coming from a dark place to advocate the murder of a colleague and their family. This conduct is disqualifying.”
President Donald Trump also commented on the issue, criticizing Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger for not publicly condemning Jones.
“Radical Left Lunatic, Jay Jones, who is running against Jason Miyares, the GREAT Attorney General in Virginia, 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,” Trump said on Truth Social. “Abigail Spanberger, who is running for Governor, is weak and ineffective, and refuses to acknowledge what this Lunatic has done.”
The controversy has emerged alongside growing concerns from Republicans about political violence. Recent incidents cited by GOP officials include the Sept. 10 assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk and an attack on the Israeli embassy that left two staff members dead.
Several Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities have also been targeted, including one shooting that left two people dead and another in which an ICE agent was shot in the neck.
Earley linked that climate of violence to rhetoric from Democratic figures, including Spanberger. He said two of his Republican colleagues recently received credible death threats that resulted in arrests.
“The nation was shaken by Charlie Kirk’s assassination, and we were immediately shaken again by so many reactions to the killing that either justified or celebrated it,” he said. “We had a school board member here in our county say ‘call me old fashioned but I remember when we used to be okay with shooting nazis.’ Abigail Spanberger then throws gasoline on the fire by telling her supporters to ‘let their rage fuel them.’ In the last few weeks, two of my Republican colleagues received credible death threats that led to arrests.”
“And now we have Jay Jones, the Democratic nominee for Attorney General, saying that he wants to put two bullets in the head of our former Republican House Speaker, and wishes that his wife could watch her child die in her arms so that they would change their political opinions.”
Earley said the concern extends beyond one candidate.
“This is unfortunately becoming a pattern where far too many believe that violence is a legitimate political tool,” he said. “We have to break out of this cycle.”
He urged leaders across the political spectrum to reject violent rhetoric.
“We must reject violence as a political tool,” Earley said. “We must unify around the idea that civility and dialogue are the only paths forward.”
Earley’s campaign platform includes tax cuts, support for law enforcement, limiting gender-related curriculum in schools, and expanding parental rights in education. He said reestablishing trust begins with clear moral boundaries.
“We have to re-build a culture of trust, a culture of civility, and a culture that talks to each other — as a community, as a Commonwealth, and as a country,” he said. “The first step in getting there is for Jay Jones to withdraw from this race.”
