Virginia Attorney General Race Rocked by Minnesota Freedom Fund Connection

In the heated race for Virginia’s attorney general position, Democratic candidate Jay Jones is facing increased scrutiny after reports surfaced that his wife, Mavis Jones, donated to the controversial Minnesota Freedom Fund in May 2020. During the height of protests following George Floyd’s death, Mavis publicly shared her support for the bail organization on social media, encouraging others to contribute as well. This revelation comes at a particularly challenging time for Jones, who is already trailing Republican incumbent Jason Miyares in recent polls. The timing is especially problematic as the race enters its final weeks, with voters preparing to select who will oversee Virginia’s state-level prosecutions and police oversight functions.

The Minnesota Freedom Fund became a lightning rod for controversy after investigations revealed how it utilized the more than $41 million it raised during the 2020 social justice protests. While the organization initially pledged to support protestors arrested during demonstrations, a FOX 9 investigation found that much of its funding went toward bailing out individuals accused of serious violent crimes rather than those charged with protest-related offenses. Among those benefiting from the fund’s activities was Christopher Boswell, a twice-convicted rapist facing fresh kidnapping and assault charges, who was released after the organization posted $350,000 in cash bail. Other notable cases included Darnika Floyd, charged with second-degree murder, who was freed on a $100,000 bail payment, and Jaleel Stallings, who allegedly fired at a Minneapolis SWAT team before being acquitted at trial. Perhaps most troubling was the case of George Howard, a man with a lengthy criminal record who was bailed out by the fund only to be charged weeks later with fatally shooting another person in a road rage incident.

The controversy deepened when Greg Lewin, who served as the fund’s interim executive director at the time, made statements suggesting the organization paid little attention to the specific charges against those they helped release. “The last time we were down there, the clerk said, ‘We hate it when you bail out these sex offenders,'” Lewin was quoted as saying. “I often don’t even look at a charge when I bail someone out.” Such comments have fueled criticism that the fund operated without sufficient consideration for public safety implications, creating a political liability for anyone associated with it. While Mavis Jones’ personal donation does not directly implicate her husband’s campaign, it has nonetheless become a campaign issue in a race where law enforcement credentials and public safety positions are central themes.

For Jay Jones, the 35-year-old Democratic challenger, this revelation compounds an already troubled campaign that has been rocked by multiple controversies. Most damaging were violent text messages he sent regarding Republican leaders, including one where he wrote that then-House Speaker Todd Gilbert gets “two bullets to the head” and that Gilbert’s wife Jennifer should “watch her children die.” Jones has since apologized for these messages, but the damage to his campaign has been substantial. Adding to his troubles, court records revealed a 2022 reckless driving conviction for traveling 116 mph on a Virginia highway, resulting in a $1,500 fine and an order to perform 1,000 hours of community service. Further complicating matters, a state ethics review is currently examining whether hours Jones spent volunteering for his own political committee should legitimately count toward fulfilling this service requirement.

The political impact of these compounding controversies has been significant and measurable. What once appeared to be a promising campaign for Jones has seen a dramatic reversal of fortune in recent polling. A Trafalgar Group poll released on October 17 found Miyares leading 49.5% to 44.6%, completely flipping earlier survey results that had shown Jones with a six-point advantage prior to his text message scandal becoming public. This momentum shift gives Miyares and Republican supporters additional leverage in the campaign’s final stretch, allowing them to paint their Democratic opponent as out of step with law enforcement values and public safety priorities. The Minnesota Freedom Fund connection provides yet another talking point for Republicans seeking to characterize Jones as aligned with progressive criminal justice policies that they argue prioritize offenders over victims.

As the race enters its final phase, both campaigns are likely to intensify their messaging around law enforcement credentials and public safety records. For Miyares, the incumbent Republican, these recent controversies provide an opportunity to reinforce his message as a traditional law-and-order prosecutor. For Jones, the challenges now include not only explaining his own previous controversies but also addressing his family’s connection to an organization that has become synonymous with contentious bail reform policies. Neither the Minnesota Freedom Fund nor the Jay Jones campaign responded to requests for comment from Fox News Digital, and Mavis Jones has since made her social media account private, suggesting the campaign recognizes the political sensitivity of the issue. With the attorney general position carrying significant responsibility for criminal justice policy in Virginia, voters will ultimately decide whether these controversies outweigh Jones’ campaign platform, or if Miyares has earned another term as the commonwealth’s top law enforcement official.