WASHINGTON — Despite the controversy surrounding their Attorney General candidate for Virginia, Jay Jones, Democrats are resolutely supporting him. This comes in light of disturbing messages where he imagined the assassination of then-Republican state House Speaker Todd Gilbert.

Democrats from Virginia Beach are steadfast in their assertion that Jones will perform with “integrity and accountability.” Meanwhile, gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger has not condemned him, even in the face of appalling texts where Jones fantasized about Gilbert being shot and referred to his young children as “little fascists.”

“Recent coverage has brought past indiscretions to light,” according to a Virginia Beach Democrats’ statement. “We believe that only those without faults should judge.”

“Jay Jones has taken responsibility, apologized, and shown he is committed to serving with integrity and accountability that his public record already shows. Virginians deserve a leader who learns, grows, and stands for everyday people—and Jay is that leader.”

Jones has been in a nail-biter race against conservative incumbent AG Jason Miyares, according to most polling.

On Friday, the National Review published a bombshell story about a multitude of disturbing messages Jones sent back in 2022

“Three people, two bullets,” one of the vile texts sent at 8 a.m. on Aug. 8, 2022, subsequently obtained by The Post, read. “Gilbert, hitler, and pol pot.”

“Gilbert gets two bullets to the head,” Jones continued, “Spoiler: put Gilbert in the crew with the two worst people you know and he receives both bullets every time.” 

The texts, first reported by National Review on Friday, were sent by Jones at around 8 a.m., on Aug. 8, 2022, to Republican House Delegate Carrie Coyner, who was clearly troubled by the messages. 

Republican House Delegate Carrie Coyner, who was on the receiving end of those messages, wrote back, “Jay. Please stop.”

Jones was previously a member of the Virginia House of Delegates, having served from 2018 through January 2022.

“It really bothers me when you talk about hurting people or wishing death on them,” she continued.

Jones had begun the text exchange, whining about the “glowing tributes” from Republicans that centrist Democrat Joe Johnson Jr. — a former state legislator who died days earlier — was receiving.

“If those guys die before me,” Jones declared, “I will go to their funerals to piss on their graves. 

“Send them out awash in something.” 

Jones then further dug in and held a call with Coyner, cruelly fantasizing that the former state House Speaker’s wife could watch her children die, to change Gilbert’s views, the National Review reported.

“You weren’t trying to understand,” Coyner texted back after reportedly hanging up. “You were talking about hopping [sic] jennifer Gilbert’s children would die.” 

Jones fired back: “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,” Jones went on. 

Initially, Jones refused to apologize for his disturbing text messages and blasted his rival Miyares for “dropping smears” against him.

Then he claimed to have contacted Gilbert and his wife to apologize for his “grave mistake.”

“I take full responsibility for my actions, and I want to issue my deepest apology to Speaker Gilbert and his family. Reading back those words made me sick to my stomach. I am embarrassed, ashamed and sorry,” Jones said in a subsequent statement.

Many other top Democrats in Virginia have refrained from calling on Jones to exit the race. His vile text messages surface as conservatives continue to reel from the assassination of Charlie Kirk and the country grapples with rising political violence.

Spanberger denounced Jones’ text messages but declined to call on him to drop out of the race.

“After learning of these comments earlier today, I spoke frankly with Jay about my disgust with what he had said and texted,” Spanberger said in a statement.

“I made clear to Jay that he must fully take responsibility for his words. What I have also made clear is that as a candidate — and the next Governor of our Commonwealth, I will always condemn violent language in our politics.”