Hold onto your hats, folks-- Virginia’s race for attorney general just got messier with a revelation that could make even the most seasoned politico wince.

The latest storm surrounding Democrat candidate Jay Jones stems from his wife’s past donation to a Minnesota bail fund accused of springing violent offenders, a controversy now dragging his campaign through the mud alongside other ethical missteps and sinking poll numbers, as the New York Post reports.

Let’s rewind to May 2020, when Mavis Jones, not yet married to then-state delegate Jay Jones, took to social media to announce her support for the Minnesota Freedom Fund during the Minneapolis unrest following George Floyd’s death. She didn’t just quietly donate—she publicly urged others to chip in, linking to the fund’s donation page. It’s the kind of well-meaning gesture that can boomerang spectacularly in a political campaign.

Unpacking Freedom Fund controversy

Now, the Minnesota Freedom Fund isn’t exactly a local charity knitting scarves for the needy -- it raised over $41 million during that unrest, ostensibly to help jailed protesters. But a FOX 9 investigation later exposed that much of the cash went to bail out folks accused of heinous crimes like murder and sexual assault, not just demonstration-related offenses. That’s a far cry from the “justice for all” banner some might have imagined.

Consider the fund’s track record: $350,000 to release Christopher Boswell, a twice-convicted rapist facing fresh charges for kidnapping and assault. Then there’s $100,000 for Darnika Floyd, charged with second-degree murder, and $75,000 for Jaleel Stallings, who allegedly fired at a SWAT team before being acquitted on self-defense grounds. These aren’t your average jaywalking cases, and critics argue this approach risks public safety under a social justice label.

Even more eyebrow-raising is a statement from Greg Lewin, the fund’s then-interim executive director, who admitted, “I often don’t even look at a charge when I bail someone out.” He doubled down, saying the system itself, not the individual’s actions, was the real enemy. If that doesn’t make you question the fund’s priorities, perhaps the case of George Howard -- bailed out only to be charged with murder weeks later in a road rage incident—will.

Jay Jones' campaign takes hit

Fast forward to today, and Mavis Jones’s donation has resurfaced just as her husband campaigns to be Virginia’s top law enforcement officer. The timing couldn’t be worse, as questions swirl about the couple’s views on criminal justice and public safety. It’s a fair concern: should a candidate for AG be tied, even indirectly, to a group so cavalier about violent offenders?

But that’s not the only baggage weighing Jay Jones down. Recently, leaked text messages revealed him wishing violence on then-House Speaker Todd Gilbert in shockingly graphic terms, including hoping Gilbert’s wife would “watch her children die.” Jones apologized, stating he was “ashamed” of the texts, but the damage is done—and voters are taking notice.

Then there’s the matter of his 2022 reckless driving conviction for speeding at 116 mph on a Virginia highway, resulting in a $1,500 fine and 1,000 hours of community service. An ethics review is even probing whether half of those hours, served through his own political action committee, should count. It’s another dent in a campaign already looking like a car after a demolition derby.

Political fallout, shifting support

The political fallout is measurable: a Trafalgar Group poll from Oct. 17 shows Jones trailing his Republican opponent, Jason Miyares, 49.5% to 44.6%. That’s a stark reversal from earlier surveys where Jones led by six points before the text message scandal broke. Numbers don’t lie, and they’re screaming that voters are rethinking their choice.

Miyares isn’t letting this slide, pointing to what he calls Jones’s “pattern of contempt for law enforcement and victims.” It’s a sharp critique, especially when paired with the bail fund controversy tied to Jones’s spouse. For a candidate running to uphold the law, these associations and personal lapses are tough to defend.

Let’s be clear: no one’s saying Mavis Jones intended to support violence by donating to the Minnesota Freedom Fund. But in politics, optics matter, and linking your name to a group that’s bailed out accused murderers and rapists is a tough look when your husband’s job would be protecting the public. It’s a classic case of good intentions meeting harsh reality.

Questions of judgment loom large

Critics of the Minnesota Freedom Fund argue it enables dangerous individuals to reoffend while hiding behind a progressive agenda. The data backs this up with cases like Howard’s, where bail led to tragic consequences. It’s a debate about balancing reform with responsibility -- and right now, Jones is on the wrong side of that line for many Virginians.

Jay Jones hasn’t withdrawn from the race despite the mounting scandals, and perhaps he believes he can weather this storm. But with each new revelation -- be it violent texts, reckless driving, or his wife’s questionable donation -- his path to victory looks more like a tightrope over a canyon.

Virginia voters now face a choice: do they trust a candidate whose personal and familial ties raise serious questions about judgment on public safety? Miyares is banking on the answer being a resounding “no,” and if the polls are any indication, he might just be right. It’s a cautionary tale about how past actions, even those of a spouse, can haunt a political future.