Miyares demands Jones’ ouster after court doc indicates reckless driving case under further criminal probe
Virginia’s political landscape is heating up as Attorney General Jason Miyares publicly criticized his Democratic challenger, Jay Jones, following revelations that Jones’ reckless driving incident is under renewed criminal investigation. A court filing from New Kent County indicates that Commonwealth’s Attorney Scott Renick has requested to be recused from the case, citing unspecified reasons, which suggests that the investigation remains active. Miyares, in a statement to Fox News Digital, emphasized the implications of this ongoing probe, arguing that Jones cannot adequately serve as Attorney General while under investigation. He further condemned Jones for his past actions, including alarming text messages that suggested violence against a Republican leader, asserting that these behaviors already disqualified him from holding the attorney general position.
The court order in question was signed by Judge B. Elliott Bondurant and refers to the case Commonwealth v. Jerrauld C. Jones. Renick’s recusal has led to the appointment of Nathan R. Green, the Commonwealth’s Attorney from James City County, as special prosecutor. This development raises questions not only about the reckless driving incident, where Jones was clocked at 116 mph, but also about the ethics of how he completed part of his community service—half of which was reportedly done through his own political action committee. The remaining hours were logged with the NAACP of Virginia, raising further scrutiny regarding the legitimacy of his community service claims. Miyares has positioned himself as the candidate focused on accountability and integrity, contrasting sharply with Jones, whose actions have drawn criticism and skepticism from both sides of the political aisle.
As the election approaches, the stakes are high, with Miyares leveraging this situation to underscore the seriousness of Jones’ legal troubles and the implications for leadership in Virginia. The ongoing investigation and the potential fallout could significantly impact Jones’ campaign, as voters weigh the importance of integrity and accountability in their next Attorney General. With Miyares touting his record on crime and issues like fentanyl, the race is poised to become a focal point in Virginia’s political discourse, especially as more details about the investigation and Jones’ actions come to light.
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Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares
blasted Democratic challenger Jay Jones after a court filing indicated the probe into Jones’ I-64 reckless driving arrest remains or is again under criminal investigation.
A court filing obtained by Fox News Digital in New Kent County shows that Commonwealth’s Attorney Scott Renick asked to be recused from the case, citing largely unspecified reasons — a move that indicates an investigation remains active.
“It is not possible for Jay Jones to fulfill the duties of the
attorney general
while under an open criminal investigation,” Miyares told Fox News Digital after learning of the document, first reported by National Review.
VIRGINIA AG CANDIDATE JAY JONES CONVICTED OF RECKLESS DRIVING, CALLS IT ‘MISTAKE’
“If Jay stays in the race, it shows a contempt for voters never seen in modern
Virginia political history
.”
Miyares said Jones’ text messages envisioning the murder of then-House Speaker Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah, already disqualified him from the position, but that Wednesday’s news is icing on the proverbial cake.
“Now we learn that he may have misled the courts to avoid jail time for
recklessly driving 116mph
. He has not taken accountability for his words or actions,” Miyares said.
WATCH: KAINE DEFENDS JONES AMID AG CANDIDATE’S TEXTS ENVISIONING MURDER OF GOP LEADER: ‘STILL A SUPPORTER’
The order, signed by New Kent County Circuit Judge B. Elliott Bondurant, cites the case Commonwealth v. Jerrauld C. Jones.
Bondurant wrote that Renick advised the court he believed it would be “improper for him to act in the matter currently pending in the General District Court in New Kent County, due to a potential conflict.”
Without extrapolating the conflict further, Bondurant consented to the request and has appointed James City County Commonwealth’s Attorney Nathan R. Green as
special prosecutor
.
JONES AND MIYARES CLASH OVER MURDER TEXTS AS DEM REPEATEDLY INVOKES TRUMP AT HEATED, HIGH-STAKES DEBATE
Green, whose jurisdiction is adjacent to New Kent, is based out of and also includes
the independent city of Williamsburg
.
Green will be able to “exercise all powers of the Attorney for the Commonwealth in this matter,” Bondurant wrote.
Questions have also surfaced about the legality and ethics of Jones completing half of his 1,000 community service hours for the reckless driving case through his own political action committee. The remaining 500 hours were logged with the NAACP of Virginia, according to a sworn statement signed by the group’s president, Rev. Cozy Bailey.
JASON MIYARES TOUTS RECORD ON CRIME, FENTANYL AS JONES SCANDAL ROILS VIRGINIA RACE
Fox News Digital has a pending Freedom of Information Act request with New Kent County for any communications between the committee – MOMPAC – and the county as well as the NAACP and the county.
Legal documents obtained by Fox News Digital earlier in October did not indicate whether time logs were also filed along with the sworn certificates of completion of 500 hours each.
Jones was also issued a $1,500 fine for the incident.
Officials who answered the phone at both the New Kent County Circuit Court and Renick’s office declined to provide details about the
investigation referenced in the recusal document
, though the court did release a copy of the order to Fox News Digital.
Fox News Digital reached out to Jones for comment for purposes of this story but did not hear back by press time.
Eric
Eric is a seasoned journalist covering US Politics news.
