Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) declined to comment when asked by Fox News Digital whether Democratic attorney general candidate Jerrauld “Jay” Jones should drop out after texts surfaced describing the murder of former Virginia House Speaker Todd Gilbert.
On his way to a Senate Intelligence Committee briefing, Warner avoided reporters, appearing to take a longer route to the hearing room after spotting the press. Warner was also asked whether he would call on Jones to return the $25,000 donation his campaign received in August and if he regretted making the contribution. Fox News Digital earlier reported the donation and found a joint fundraising page for Warner and Jones on ActBlue.
“Senator Warner, do you want Jay Jones to drop out of the race in Virginia?” Fox News Digital asked Warner, who continued walking and focused instead on an aide’s ongoing comments to him.
“Are those comments acceptable — do you want Jay Jones to drop out,” other reporters chimed in.
Warner ignored reporters as he entered the committee’s members-only foyer, passing Capitol Police on his way to the briefing room. His silence contrasted with that of fellow Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, who told Fox News Digital that he still supports the embattled candidate.
“Jay has apologized,” said the failed 2016 vice presidential candidate. “I’ve known Jay Jones for 25 years. I think those statements were not in character, and he has apologized — I wish other people in public life would sincerely apologize for stuff.”
Jones, a former state delegate from Norfolk, is facing mounting pressure to exit the attorney general race amid bipartisan outrage over violent text messages. In 2022 texts released to National Review and Fox News Digital, he wrote that former Virginia House Speaker Todd Gilbert “deserves both bullets,” choosing him over Adolf Hitler and Pol Pot in a hypothetical scenario. Jones is also under scrutiny for claiming 1,000 hours of community service without records to verify it, and was previously charged with reckless driving for going 116 mph on Interstate 64.
