Virginia attorney general candidate Jay Jones was called out by his Republican opponent during their first and only debate Thursday after the embattled Democrat touted his plan to keep “children safe” weeks after his sick text messages about hoping a mother could watch her kids die surfaced.

Jones, who has plummeted in the polls since the scandal broke, used his opening statement to once again apologize for the text messages he sent a colleague about former Virginia House Speaker Todd Gilbert, his wife, Jennifer, and their two young children .

“Let me be very clear: I am ashamed. I am embarrassed. And I am sorry,” Jones said, later adding, “I cannot take back what I said, but you have my word that I will always be accountable for my mistakes.”

Jones has plummeted in the polls sinc

See Full Page