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Monday, February 23, 2026

Tag: 2025 Election
November 4, 2025
William Upton
Breaking

Jay Jones Just Tried to Kick a Dog, Literally.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Virginia’s Democrat attorney general candidate, Jay Jones, appears in a video to actively attempt to kick a small dog outside a polling place on Tuesday, election day.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Jay Jones and the victim, a small dog.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Tuesday, November 4, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I’ve told you this before. Only when people feel pain personally do they move on policy.” — Jay Jones

🎯IMPACT: The behavior has reinforced concerns that Jones may be hiding darker, more abusive impulses, as previously illustrated by his threats against former Virginia Republican House Speaker Todd Gilbert and his children.

IN FULL

Virginia’s Democrat attorney general candidate, Jay Jones—already facing public backlash for texting fantasies of murdering a Republican lawmaker and his children to a colleague—now appears to have actively attempted to kick a small dog outside a polling place on Tuesday, election day.

In the video, a woman has a small dog on a leash, and the animal is squatting in front of Jones. After the woman leans over to, presumably, pick up the dog’s droppings, Jones bizarrely swings his foot at the dog—appearing to be attempting to kick it out of the way. When this fails, Jones leans over and proceeds to swat at the dog with his hand to shoo it out of his path.


The behavior has reinforced concerns that Jones may be hiding darker, more abusive impulses, as previously illustrated by his threats against former Virginia Republican House Speaker Todd Gilbert and his children. Despite this, former President Barack Obama and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger both campaigned with Jones in Hampton Roads, Virginia, on Saturday.

“Three people, two bullets. Gilbert, hitler [sic], and pol pot [sic]. 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,” Jones wrote in a 2022 text message to Republican House Delegate Carrie Coyne. In a second text, Jones told Coyne he wished to see Gilbert’s children murdered, arguing: “I’ve told you this before. Only when people feel pain personally do they move on policy.”

Current Virginia House Speaker Don Scott Jr. (D) has defended Jones, calling him “a good young man who made a huge error.” Jones is 36.

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November 3, 2025
Data

Poll: Millions Could Exit NYC If Mamdani Wins Mayoral Race.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Hundreds of thousands of New York City residents say they will leave the city if socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani wins the mayoral race, with a poll suggesting millions more may consider leaving.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Zohran Mamdani, independent candidate Andrew Cuomo, Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, and New York City residents.

📍WHEN & WHERE: New York City, ahead of Tuesday’s mayoral election.

💬KEY QUOTE: The poll found that nine percent of New Yorkers would “definitely” leave the city, while 25 percent would “consider” leaving, amounting to over 2.12 million people.

🎯IMPACT: A potential Mamdani term could lead to a significant loss of New York City’s tax base, as seven percent of high earners earning $250,000 or more annually expressed intentions to leave.

IN FULL

New York City could see a mass exodus of residents should the Democrats’ socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani win the mayoral race on Tuesday, with a new poll suggesting that upwards of two million are considering leaving the metropolis of nearly nine million. A poll, conducted by J.L. Partners, revealed that nine percent of New Yorkers would “definitely” leave the city, translating to approximately 765,000 residents, while 25 percent would “consider” leaving, amounting to over 2.12 million people.

This comes as Mamdani, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa face off in the final stretch of the mayoral race. Mamdani, who has previously called for defunding the police, increasing taxes on “whiter neighborhoods”, and implementing a $30 minimum wage, has sparked concern among many residents.

Respondents to the poll used terms such as “disaster,” “hell,” “chaos,” “destroyed,” and “s**thole” to describe what they believe New York City would become under Mamdani’s leadership. Supporters of the Ugandan immigrant, however, described the potential future as “affordable,” “improved,” “hopeful,” and “changed.”

Notbably, the poll found that seven percent of people earning $250,000 or more annually would “definitely” leave the city under Mamdani’s leadership. This could result in a significant loss to the city’s tax base, as the top one percent of earners currently contribute to around half of New York City‘s tax revenue.

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November 3, 2025
Politics

Obama Is Campaigning with Jay Jones, Who Fantasized About Murdering Republicans and Children.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Former President Barack Hussein Obama headlined a Virginia rally for Democrat gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger, where scandal-plagued attorney general hopeful Jay Jones also appeared.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Barack Obama, Abigail Spanberger, Jay Jones, and critics, including Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears and Governor Glenn Youngkin (R-VA).

📍WHEN & WHERE: The rally took place in Hampton Roads, Virginia, on Saturday, November 1, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: Governor Youngkin condemned the rally, calling it a “great representation of the far-left’s embrace of violence.”

🎯IMPACT: The rally sparked backlash, with critics highlighting Jones’s murderous rhetoric and questioning the Democratic Party’s moral clarity.

IN FULL

Former President Barack Obama is facing criticism after appearing at a Hampton Roads, Virginia, rally in support of Democrat gubernatorial nominee Abigail Spanberger and attorney general candidate Jay Jones. National Democrats and Spanberger have resisted calls to push Jones off the state ticket after it was revealed he fantasized about murdering former Republican Virginia House Speaker Todd Gilbert and his children in text messages sent to a fellow lawmaker.

Neither Obama nor Spanberger addressed Jones’s murderous rhetoric, instead opting to focus on criticizing President Donald J. Trump. Critics contend that Obama’s association with Jones undermines his prior calls for “civility” in politics.

“They endorse killing us,” Florida journalist Eric Daugherty said of Obama’s appearance alongside Jones. Virginia’s Republican Lieutenant Governor, Winsome Earle-Sears, described the situation as “absolutely crazy,” adding that such rhetoric does not represent Virginia’s values.

Governor Glenn Youngkin (R-VA) also condemned the rally, calling it a “great representation of the far-left’s embrace of violence.”

“Three people, two bullets. Gilbert, hitler [sic], and pol pot [sic]. 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,” Jones wrote in a 2022 text message to Republican House Delegate Carrie Coyne. In a second text, Jones told Coyne he wished to see Gilbert’s children murdered, arguing: “I’ve told you this before. Only when people feel pain personally do they move on policy.”

Current Virginia House Speaker Don Scott Jr. (D) defended Jones, calling him “a good young man who made a huge error.”

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November 3, 2025
William Upton
Politics

CAIR SuperPAC Is Mamdani Campaign’s Biggest Backer, Linda Sarsour Claims.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has emerged as one of the dark money funders of Zohran Mamdani, the Democrats’ socialist candidate for New York City mayor.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Zohran Mamdani, CAIR, Linda Sarour, and the American-Muslim community.

📍WHEN & WHERE:. Contributions made over the course of the 2025 New York City mayoral race.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The story is not just that it’s random that Zohran ascended to this place, it is our Muslim-American communities… and I will also say that it’s Muslim money, the PACs that have supported Zohran or a particular PAC that has supported Zohran, is probably over 80 percent of Mulsim-American donors in this country.” — Linda Sarsour

🎯IMPACT: The financial support from CAIR and the broader Muslim community is not without strings attached, according to Sarsour

IN FULL

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has emerged as one of the dark money funders of Zohran Mamdani, the Democrats’ socialist candidate for New York City mayor. Campaign finance records show the group—with alleged ties to Islamic extremists—both directly and indirectly funneled hundreds of thousands of dollars to Mamdani’s mayoral campaign over the last year. In addition, Islamist activist Linda Sarsour claims CAIR has been instrumental in pushing the broader American Mulsim community to contribute to Mamdani, making its impact far larger than data suggests.

“Right now, I’m a little more quiet, because I’m on the quiet side of this race,” Sarsour told attendees at CAIR’s National Leadership and Policy Conference in September. “But I’m going to tell you that once November 4 comes around, I will tell the story. The story is not just that it’s random that Zohran ascended to this place, it is our Muslim-American communities… and I will also say that it’s Muslim money, the PACs that have supported Zohran or a particular PAC that has supported Zohran, is probably over 80 percent of Mulsim-American donors in this country.”

“And I want to make the point that the Unity and Justice Fund PAC, which is the CAIR SuperPAC, was the largest institutional donor to the pro-Zorhan PAC  in New York,” Sarsour claimed.


The financial support from CAIR and the broader Muslim community is not without strings attached, something Sarsour made clear in an Instagram live stream this past Saturday. “I just want you all to know I’m not going to work for the Zohran administration. I’m not going to work in City Hall, because, guess what? There gotta be people like me willing to stay outside,” she said.

Sarsour also warned Mamdani: “Our friends on the inside need people on the outside to hold them accountable. To say, ‘We see you. We’re paying attention.’”

Image by Festival of Faiths.

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October 30, 2025
Crime
Politics

Zohran Mamdani Faces Criminal Referrals Over Alleged Foreign Donations.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Democrat New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani is facing two criminal referrals over alleged campaign finance violations.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Zohran Mamdani, the Coolidge Reagan Foundation, and campaign finance expert Dan Backer.

📍WHEN & WHERE: New York City mayoral race, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “These are not isolated incidents or clerical errors.” – Dan Backer

🎯IMPACT: Allegations of foreign contributions could lead to fines, but enforcement appears unlikely.

IN FULL

Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic Party’s socialist nominee in New York City‘s mayoral race, is under scrutiny following two criminal referrals filed by the Coolidge Reagan Foundation. The complaints allege that Mamdani, a Ugandan immigrant, accepted nearly $13,000 from at least 170 donors located outside the United States, which would be a violation of federal and local campaign finance laws.

Dan Backer, president of the Coolidge Reagan Foundation and a national campaign finance expert, stated, “These are not isolated incidents or clerical errors.” He further asserted that this represented “a sustained pattern of foreign money flowing into a New York City mayoral race,” accusing the campaign of failing to take meaningful action to prevent such violations despite being “on notice for months.”

The Mamdani campaign has responded by claiming that 31 of the 170 donors have proven their citizenship or legal permanent residence, and that the remaining 139 donations have been refunded. However, the criminal referral argues that refunding questionable donations does not rectify the violation.

“Despite being well aware of this influx of illegal foreign contributions, it appears he did nothing throughout most of 2025 to prevent his campaign from accepting them in the first place,” reads the referral. Notably, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) can only impose fines, and local prosecutors are unlikely to pursue charges.

The National Pulse reported in July that during the Democratic Party’s New York City mayoral primary, Mamdani’s campaign was bolstered by political dark money operations, including over $2 million in PAC spending, mostly from Silicon Valley billionaires and a cadre of elite Democratic Party donors.

Image by InformedImages.

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October 29, 2025
Politics

Soros Backed Socialist NYC Mayoral Hopeful Zohran Mamdani with $37 Million.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The far-left political institutions backing socialist Zohran Mamdani, the Democrat nominee for New York City Mayor, are heavily funded by radical billionaire George Soros and his dark money network, data shows.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Zohran Mamdani, George Soros, former President Barack Obama, and Patrick Gaspard.

📍WHEN & WHERE: October 2025.

🎯IMPACT: Mamdani’s candidacy highlights tensions within the Democratic Party and raises questions about his ties to wealthy donors like George Soros.

IN FULL

The far-left political institutions backing socialist Zohran Mamdani, the Democrat nominee for New York City Mayor, are heavily funded by radical billionaire George Soros and his dark money network. Despite Mamdani publicly excoriating dark money in politics, data shows his campaign has benefited both directly and indirectly from  Soros’s Open Society Foundations (OSF) and other wealthy Democratic donors.

Since 2016, the OSF has funneled an estimated $37 million into New York State’s Working Families Party and other far-left organizations that have worked to boost increasingly radical and progressive candidates in the Democratic Party. The Working Families Party, ostensibly a minor progressive third party, uses New York’s electoral fusion laws to influence Democratic Party politics, with the aim of elevating candidates like Mamdani.

The dark money operation behind the Mamdani campaign hasn’t gone unnoticed by the 34-year-old assemblyman’s critics. New York Mayor Eric Adams has stated, “While Zohran Mamdani attacks job creators and rails against wealth, the truth is he’s benefiting from millions in support from billionaires and the very non-profit network he pretends to stand apart from.” Republican mayoral nominee Curtis Sliwa echoed these sentiments, accusing Mamdani of targeting only billionaires who do not support his agenda.

Mamdani’s connections extend beyond Soros. His campaign has received support from former President Barack Obama and key Democratic figures like Patrick Gaspard, who previously led OSF and served as Obama’s national political director. Obama personally congratulated Mamdani after his primary win, offering advice and encouragement. David Axelrod, a senior Obama advisor, also praised Mamdani’s idealism and urged Democrats to embrace his approach.

The National Pulse reported in July that during the Democratic Party’s New York City mayoral primary,  Mamdani’s campaign was bolstered even more by over $2 million in PAC spending, which an investigation by forensic accountant Sam Antar revealed came mostly from Silicon Valley billionaires and a cadre of elite Democratic Party donors.

Finance records show that the Working Families Party National PAC served as the Mamdani campaign’s primary attack vehicle, spending $539,616 of its $701,792 expenditure on attacks against Mamdani’s primary opponent, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (D). Similarly, New Yorkers for Lower Costs—an independent expenditure PAC—which raised money off of Mamdadni’s message and image—served as a key positive messaging vehicle behind the socialist candidate. In total, the PAC spent $893,877 of its $1,320,446 expendire promoting Mamdani, with the remainder used to attack Cuomo.

Image by IMF Staff Photographer/Michael Spilotro.

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October 24, 2025
Politics

The New York Knicks Really Want to Make It Clear They Didn’t Endorse Mamdani.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The New York Knicks issued a cease-and-desist letter to New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani (D) over his unauthorized use of the team’s logo in a campaign ad.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The New York Knicks, Zohran Mamdani, Mayor Eric Adams, and former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (D).

📍WHEN & WHERE: The incident occurred during the Knicks’ season opener in New York City, 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The Knicks want to make it clear that we do not endorse Mr. Mamdani for Mayor, and we object to his use of our copyrighted logo. We will pursue all legal remedies to enforce our rights.” – Knicks spokesman

🎯IMPACT: Continued misteps by Mamdani’s campaign, as with its Knicks logo use, could leave undecided voters seeing the far-left New York Assemblyman as too inexperienced to serve as mayor.

IN FULL

The New York Knicks have sent a cease-and-desist letter to Democratic Socialist mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani after his campaign used a modified version of the team’s logo in a political ad. The ad, aired during the Knicks’ season opener, replaced the word “Knicks” with “Zohran” in the iconic orange and blue logo.

The team’s legal representatives argued that the ad could “mislead the public into believing that the Campaign is affiliated with, sponsored or endorsed by, or in some way connected with the Knicks.” A spokesman for the Knicks stated, “The Knicks want to make it clear that we do not endorse Mr. Mamdani for Mayor, and we object to his use of our copyrighted logo. We will pursue all legal remedies to enforce our rights.”

While polling shows Mamdani, a Ugandan Muslim immigrant, leading Andrew Cuomo, the former state governor, heading into the final weeks of the campaign, continued misteps, as with the Knicks logo use, could leave undecided voters seeing the 34-year-old New York Assemblyman as too inexperienced to lead the city. In another inexplicable campaign flub in June, Mamdani’s proposal for city government-owned grocery stores fell apart after it was revealed that he didn’t understand the city budget. Among the errors was Mamdani’s confusing private investment with public investment and not understanding the budgetary impacts of  “waived tax revenue” rather than “expenditure.”

The National Pulse reported earlier this week that Mamdani shared a photo on social media last Saturday in which he appears with radical Islamist Imam Siraj Wahhaj, an unindicted co-conspirator in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. In the post, Mamdani, who follows the extreme Twelver sect of Shia Islam, praised Wahhaj as one of America’s foremost Muslim religious scholars and a pillar of the local community.

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October 16, 2025
Politics

Obama Swoops In to Bail Out Spanberger for Virginia Governor.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Former President Barack Obama is making an eleventh-hour endorsement of Democratic candidate Abigail Spanberger in Virginia’s gubernatorial race and has appeared in two digital ads supporting her campaign. This follows Spanberger’s poor debate performance and several polls showing her opponent, Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears, within the margin of error.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Barack Obama, Abigail Spanberger, and Winsome Earle-Sears.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The endorsement and ads were revealed ahead of Virginia’s off-year gubernatorial election in November 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Virginia’s elections are some of the most important in the country this year. Every vote counts.” – Barack Obama

🎯IMPACT: Democrats hope that Obama’s last-minute endorsement will energize Democratic voters to turn out for Spanberger despite her lackluster campaign and poor debate against Earle-Sears.

IN FULL

Former President Barack Obama has made a last-minute intervention in the Virginia gubernatorial race, endorsing former Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), who is running against Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears (R-VA). Spanberger struggled in a recent debate against Earle-Sears, and the latter has surged in the polls—now just narrowly trailing Spanberger.

Obama is featured in two digital ads, focusing on abortionand economic issues. “Virginia’s elections are some of the most important in the country this year. Every vote counts,” he says.

The endorsement comes as Democrats aim to maintain momentum and stave off mounting support for Republicans in a state where the party in control of the White House has historically struggled in off-year elections.

“We know Republicans will keep attacking abortion rights and the rights of women. That’s why having the right governor matters, and I’m proud to endorse Abigail Spanberger,” Obama claimed in one ad. Another ad highlights economic concerns, with Obama claiming “Republican policies are raising costs on working families so billionaires can get massive tax cuts.”

Virginia is one of two states holding gubernatorial elections this year, alongside New Jersey. These races are being closely monitored for signals on voter sentiment heading into the 2024 presidential election and the 2026 midterms. Other prominent Democrats, including former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear (D), are also campaigning in these states to boost Democratic candidates.

The National Pulse reported on Tuesday that New Jersey Democratic gubernatorial candidate Representative Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) and Spanberger are both under scrutiny after receiving campaign donations from Pin Ni, a businessman with concerning ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Pin Ni, president of Wanxiang America Corporation, contributed $60,000 to the One Giant Leap super PAC supporting Sherrill’s campaign, and an additional $5,800 directly to her campaign this summer.

Meanwhile, the CCP-linked businessman also contributed $50,000 to support Spanberger in Virginia.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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October 14, 2025
William Upton
Corruption
Politics

Democrats Under Fire for Accepting Funds from CCP-Linked Businessman.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: New Jersey Democratic gubernatorial candidate Representative Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) and Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger are under scrutiny after receiving campaign donations from Pin Ni, a businessman with concerning ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Mikie Sherrill, Abigail Spanberger,  Pin Ni, Wanxiang America Corporation, Lu Guanqiu, and Michael Lucci.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Donations were made during the summer of 2025 to Sherrill’s campaign and her supporting super PAC, with a similar campaign contribution being made to Spanberger.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The donor, Pin Ni, has an extensive history of assisting the CCP’s political warfare and influence operations upon the U.S., and of generally aligning with and carrying out party commands.” – Michael Lucci

🎯IMPACT: Raises ethical questions about campaign donations from individuals tied to foreign governments, particularly the Chinese Communist Party.

IN FULL

New Jersey Democratic gubernatorial candidate Representative Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) and Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger are under scrutiny after receiving campaign donations from Pin Ni, a businessman with concerning ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Pin Ni, president of Wanxiang America Corporation, contributed $60,000 to the One Giant Leap super PAC supporting Sherrill’s campaign and an additional $5,800 directly to her campaign this summer. Meanwhile, the CCP-linked businessman also contributed $50,000 to support Spanberger in Virginia.

Wanxiang America is the U.S. domestic subsidiary of the Chinese automotive conglomerate Wanxiang Group, whose late founder, Lu Guanqiu, was posthumously recognized as a “National Outstanding Communist Party Member.” Notably, political campaigns in the United States are required to accept only contributions from American citizens or permanent legal residents. While Pin Ni’s citizen and residency status is unclear, his overt ties to the economic interests of the CCP raise concerns—especially amid the ongoing and escalating trade dispute between the United States and China.

A 2021 press release highlighted Guanqiu’s “pursuit of communism as a lifelong ideal and practice” and quoted Chinese President Xi Jinping praising his alignment with the CCP’s goals. Guanqiu was also appointed a delegate to multiple high-ranking CCP internal party committees.

Political campaigns in the United States are required to accept only contributions from American citizens or permanent legal residents. While Pin Ni’s status remains unclear, his ties to the CCP have raised concerns. Michael Lucci, founder and CEO of State Armor—a group he founed to to develop and enact state solutions to global security threats—stated, “The donor, Pin Ni, has an extensive history of assisting the CCP’s political warfare and influence operations upon the U.S., and of generally aligning with and carrying out party commands,” calling the acceptance of such donations “disqualifying.”

While Sherrill’s campaign has yet to comment publicly on the donations, Spanberger’s campaign defended her record on national security, stating that she remains focused on issues important to Virginians, including public safety and education. However, her opponent, Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears’s campaign, argues, “Taking $50,000 from someone with clear Chinese Communist Party ties tells us all we need to know.”

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October 7, 2025
Politics

Police Union Calls on Jay Jones to Exit AG Race for Backing Cop Deaths.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Virginia Fraternal Order of Police (VFOP) has condemned Democrat Attorney General candidate Jay Jones for violent text messages—including fantasies about killing children and police—and called for his withdrawal from the race.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Jay Jones, Virginia Fraternal Order of Police, former Virginia House Speaker Todd Gilbert, and Republican Delegate Carrie Coyner.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Text messages sent in 2022; with the messages resurfacing last week.

💬KEY QUOTE: “It is time you hold yourself accountable for these actions and withdraw from the Attorney General race immediately.” – Virginia Fraternal Order of Police

🎯IMPACT: Despite the condemnation, major Democrats have not withdrawn their endorsements of Jones.

IN FULL

The Virginia Fraternal Order of Police (VFOP) has publicly condemned Democrat Attorney General candidate Jay Jones after violent text messages sent by him in 2022 came to light. In the texts, Jones called for the death of former Virginia House Speaker Todd Gilbert, fantasized about killing Gilbert’s children, and wished death on law enforcement. The VFOP has called for Jones to withdraw from the race.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the VFOP wrote, “The Virginia Fraternal Order of Police is aware of the recent text message scandal involving you, the Democrat candidate for Attorney General. While this incident may have occurred in 2022, this conduct has no place in our society or democracy, especially from an elected official who is running to be the top prosecutor in Virginia. The men and women of the Virginia Fraternal Order unequivocally condemn these violent text messages sent by you about a political opponent and his family.”

The controversy stems from texts sent by Jones to Republican Delegate Carrie Coyner in 2022, where he remarked, “Three people, two bullets. Gilbert, hitler and pol pot. Gilbert gets two bullets to the head.” Coyner reportedly responded, “Jay Please stop.” Jones later called Coyner and allegedly expressed a desire for Gilbert’s children to die to influence policy decisions.

In recounting the incident, Coyner detailed a heated discussion with Jones about qualified immunity for police officers: “I said, ‘I believe that people will get killed. Police officers will get killed.’ And he said, ‘Well, maybe if a few of them died, that they would move on, not shooting people, not killing people.’ And I said, ‘that’s insane.’ But he firmly believed that if you removed qualified immunity, that police officers would act differently, and I firmly believe that it would not result in good public policy, and it would put police officers and the public’s lives at risk if they have to second-guess themselves on a decision they’re making in a moment where someone is doing something violent.”

Despite the VFOP’s condemnation, other major Democratic candidates in the state, including gubernatorial nominee Abigail Spanberger, have continued to support Jones, with no significant withdrawals of endorsements.

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