Jay Jones’ campaign faces scrutiny over wife’s bail fund donation

Virginia attorney general candidate Jay Jones faced new political fallout Friday after a report revealed his wife donated to the Minnesota Freedom Fund, a controversial bail organization that has used millions to bail violent offenders, including accused rapists and murderers, out of prison.

In May 2020, during the unrest in Minneapolis following the death of George Floyd, Mavis Jones posted on what was then Twitter: “I just donated to the Minnesota Freedom Fund,” linking to the group’s donation page and urging others to do the same. The account has since been made private.

The revelation, first reported by the Washington Free Beacon, comes as Jones, a Democrat, follows Republican incumbent Jason Miyares in a tight race for Virginia’s top law enforcement post. The state attorney general oversees state-level prosecutions and police oversight.

The Minnesota Freedom Fund, promoted at the time by several progressive figures, including then-Sen. Kamala Harris raised more than $41 million during the 2020 protests, pledging to support protesters arrested during clashes with police. But a FOX 9 investigation later revealed that the group spent most of its money bailing out defendants charged with serious violent crimes rather than low-level protest offenses.

JAY JONES text scandal sparks surge in donations as GOP pours millions more into VA race

Among those released was Christopher Boswell, a twice-convicted rapist who faces new kidnapping and assault charges, who was released after the fund posted $350,000 cash bail.

The group also paid $100,000 to free Darnika Floyd, who was charged with second-degree murder, and $75,000 for Jaleel Stallings, who allegedly shot at a Minneapolis SWAT team before being acquitted at trial.

Greg Lewin, then the fund’s acting executive director, told FOX 9 that same year, “Last time we were there, the clerk said, ‘We hate that you’re releasing these sex offenders.’ I often don’t even look at an accusation when bailing someone out. »

JONES AND MIYARES Clash Over MURDER TEXTS AS DEM REPEATEDLY CALLS ON TRUMP DURING HEATING, HIGH-STAKES DEBATE

Darnika Floyd, charged with second-degree murder, was released after the Minnesota Freedom Fund posted $100,000 bail in 2020. (Minnesota Department of Corrections)

In one case, the fund posted bail for George Howard, a career criminal later accused of fatally shooting a man during a road rage incident in Minneapolis, just weeks after his release.

The news adds to a string of controversies for Jones, 35, who has previously apologized for violent text messages directed at Republican leaders. In one exchange, he wrote that Todd Gilbert, then Speaker of the House of Representatives, had been shot “twice in the head” and that Gilbert’s wife, Jennifer, would have to “watch her children die.”

Mavis Jones, wife of scandal-plagued Virginia AG candidate Jay Jones (D-Va.), reportedly posted about her support for the Minnesota Freedom Fund in 2020, which bailed out accused murderers and rapists. (Jay Jones via X)

Court records also show Jones was convicted of reckless driving in 2022 for going 116 mph on a Virginia highway. He was fined $1,500 and ordered to perform 1,000 hours of community service, but a state ethics review is examining whether hours spent volunteering for his own political committee should be counted toward the sentence.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

The latest controversy breathes new life into Miyares and the Republicans in the final weeks of the campaign. A Trafalgar Group poll released October 17 found Miyares leading 49.5% to 44.6%, a reversal from previous polls that had Jones up six points before the text scandal broke.

As of Friday, Mavis Jones has set her X account to private.

The Minnesota Freedom Fund and the Jay Jones campaign did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.