JB Pritzker Defends and Shrugs Off Democrats’ Violent Texts About Opponent’s Children: ‘People Make Mistakes’ [WATCH]

Democratic Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker defended Virginia attorney general nominee Jay Jones on Thursday after newly leaked text messages appeared to show Jones fantasizing about the deaths of a Republican opponent’s children.

During an appearance on Fox News’ “Special Report with Bret Baier,” Pritzker addressed the controversy surrounding the Democratic candidate, who allegedly made violent comments about then-Republican Virginia House Speaker Todd Gilbert and his family in a 2022 text exchange with Republican House Delegate Carrie Coyner.

The messages, first reported by National Review, have drawn bipartisan criticism.

“I think the text that I think everybody points to, he’s [Jones has] apologized about that. People make mistakes. They do,” Pritzker told Bret Baier.

“It’s one thing if someone’s doing it repeatedly, right? If you’re making comments repeatedly that are like that, no doubt, that was an offensive thing to write.”

Pritzker also acknowledged donating $20,000 to Jones’ campaign before the texts surfaced, but said the contribution did not influence his defense of the candidate.

“I mean, that was before anybody saw the text, but it doesn’t matter,” Pritzker said.

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“The point is, if he wasn’t apologizing about it, if he didn’t feel bad, and if he hadn’t stood up and said, ‘This is not how I really feel.’ I think everybody says, you know, things along the way, particularly in politics, you know, when you’re getting attacked that you probably shouldn’t have said.”

The leaked 2022 text exchange showed Coyner warning Jones to stop making violent statements about political opponents. “It really bothers me when you talk about hurting people or wishing death on them,” Coyner wrote, according to National Review.

Jones reportedly brushed off the warning with a “Lol” and “Ok, ok.”

In another message, Coyner confronted Jones directly: “You were talking about hopping [sic] Jennifer Gilbert’s children would die,” referring to the wife of then-House Speaker Todd Gilbert.

Jones allegedly responded, “Yes, I’ve told you this before. Only when people feel pain personally do they move on policy. I mean, do I think Todd and Jennifer are evil? And that they’re breeding little fascists? Yes.”

After Charlie Kirk and Donald Trump were both shot in the head by Democrats you probably don’t need *more* proof that Democrats want to kill you…

But if you do, boy do I have a story for you.

Meet Jay Jones. Jay is the Democrat candidate for Attorney General of Virginia.

Jay… pic.twitter.com/vrn9waHURc

— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) October 6, 2025

The remarks, which circulated online this week, drew widespread condemnation from Republican officials, including President Donald Trump, who weighed in on Truth Social Thursday evening.

“It has just come out that the Radical Left Lunatic, Jay Jones, who is running against Jason Miyares, the GREAT Attorney General in Virginia, made SICK and DEMENTED jokes,” Trump wrote.

“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.”

🚨JUST POSTED🚨

President Trump sounds off on Virginia AG candidate Jay Jones. pic.twitter.com/t4E3Ab3nPb

— Breanna Morello (@BreannaMorello) October 5, 2025

Jones has not denied sending the messages but has issued an apology through his campaign, calling them “regrettable” and “not reflective” of his current views. Despite that apology, the controversy has threatened to overshadow his campaign and renewed criticism over his judgment.

Reporter: “Jay Jones in Virginia…”

Trump: “You mean the one that wanted to kill somebody’s children? You mean the animal that wanted to kill somebody, who should not be allowed to be running for that office?”pic.twitter.com/jD9HyDn1eo

— johnny maga (@_johnnymaga) October 20, 2025

Adding to Jones’ challenges, National Review also reported Wednesday that he is under investigation for allegedly misrepresenting his community service hours tied to a reckless driving conviction. Jones was convicted in 2022 after police cited him for driving 116 mph in a 70 mph zone.

Court records show he was ordered to complete 1,000 hours of community service. Investigators are reviewing claims that he counted volunteer work through his own political action committee and the NAACP Virginia State Conference toward fulfilling that requirement.

Jones is running against Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares, who has not commented directly on the latest controversy but has emphasized maintaining “honor and integrity” in public office.

As Jones faces mounting scrutiny, Pritzker’s defense of the embattled nominee has drawn mixed reactions within his own party, with some Democrats distancing themselves from Jones while others have echoed Pritzker’s call for forgiveness.