Jones and other legislators call on Herring to do more in Virginia Beach, Poll says majority in US back easier voter registration, and Clean Virginia spends money in statewide races
The latest in Virginia politics.
Jay Jones and other legislators call on the attorney general to conduct his own investigation into Donovon Lynch’s death
Delegate Jay Jones and five other state legislators are calling on Virginia’s attorney general to used the powers that the General Assembly recently provided him with by conducting his own investigation into the shooting of Donovon Lynch.
Lynch was shot and killed by a Virginia Beach police officer Friday night during a chaotic night of shootings at the Oceanfront that left two dead and many more wounded. Lynch was unarmed and the bodycam for the officer that shot him was not activated at the time of the shooting. Virginia State Police (VSP) are conducting their own investigation of the shooting, but Jones and other legislators want Herring to do his own, independent investigation.
“An investigation by the Virginia State Police is not enough,” Delegate Jeff Bourne said in a prepared statement Thursday.
In a statement earlier this week, Herring said he supports an independent investigation from the VSP. “I called for an independent investigation into the death of Donovon Lynch and I believe this is a step in the right direction,” Herring said Tuesday in a statement,
Joining Jones on a press call Thursday afternoon, Delegates Jeff Bourne and Paul Krizek stressed that they believe Herring should be more involved in the situation. “It can’t be a step in the right direction, it has to be more than that,” Krizek said.
Herring’s office has not responded to Virginia Scope, but they did tell the Richmond Times-Dispatch in a statement that the attorney general’s office does not have the legal power to investigate the shooting. Bourne, a former assistant attorney general said that the people working for Herring are smart enough to find a way to investigate it.
Jones also cited HB 5072, a bill that the General Assembly passed in 2020 to give the attorney general additional powers to open an investigation whenever any “law-enforcement officers of any agency of the Commonwealth or any locality are engaging in a pattern or practice that deprives persons of rights, privileges, or immunities secured or protected by the laws of the United States and the Commonwealth.” The bill also empowers the attorney general to issue a civil investigative demand if they hav reasonable cause to believe that an unlawful pattern and practice violation has occurred.
Jones is challenging Herring for the Democratic nomination to run for attorney general this year. He said that if he was attorney general, he would have had a team at the scene the morning following the shooting.
More delegates joined in on the call from Jones for an independent investigation in prepared statements. “The Office of the Attorney General has the opportunity to take the lead and investigate this directly,” said Del. Marcus Simon (D), the chair of the Privileges and Elections Committee. “We need bold leadership when it comes to police accountability to ensure that victims and communities get the answers they deserve and to prevent tragedies like this from happening in the future.”
Del. Lashrecse Aird, an early supporter of Jones, asked what is the point of the newly-established Office of Civil Rights within the attorney general’s office if it not going to be utilized for situations like this. “An Office of Civil Rights was created within the OAG to serve in moments like this,” Aird said Thursday. “If this Office fails to act as a mechanism to ensure transparency and accountability within police departments, then what is the point?”
Clean Virginia endorses Jay Jones in attorney general race and spends $250K
Clean Virginia the organization and the Political Action Committee associated with it endorsed Jay Jones for attorney general Thursday. Jones, a current state delegate from Norfolk is challenging two-term incumbent Mark Herring for the Democratic nomination to run for attorney general.
Clean Virginia has a stated mission of supporting clean energy and good governance. The Political Action Committee associated with the group is funded by hedge fund billionaire Michael Bills. Bills has become one of the largest donors in Virginia politics in recent years as he tries to push back against the influence of Dominion Energy in the state legislature.
Accompanying this endorsement of Jones from Clean Virginia is an additional $150K on top of the $100K they already gave him last year.
“We’re thrilled to officially endorse Del. Jay Jones for Attorney General, the top consumer protection officer for the state. Del. Jones has demonstrated time and again that he will champion energy reform and protect working Virginians through his bipartisan leadership in the fight against legalized corruption in the Commonwealth,” said Clean Virginia Executive Director Brennan Gilmore.
“As a partner in the fights for fair energy policy and ending legalized corruption, I am honored to have the endorsement of Clean Virginia. I am running for Attorney General to ensure that the interests of all Virginians are protected, not just those of large corporations,” said Jones. “And this fight against corruption has never been more important than it is today.”
Clean Virginia has yet to make an announcement as to who they will be endorsing in the Democratic primary race for governor, but several sources tell Virginia Scope that the group has given $500K to Jennifer Carroll Foy this quarter. They gave her $110K last year, and Sonjia Smith, a large donor in Virginia that happens to be married to Michael Bills, gave Carroll Foy $310K last year. (Smith and Bills are married, but they do not always support the same candidate.)
Clean Virginia has not commented on who they will be endorsing in the gubernatorial race.
Virginia Asian communities, lawmakers react to rise in targeted violence
By David Tran
Capital News Service
RICHMOND, Va. -- White signs reading “End Violence Against Asians” and “Stop Asian Hate” illuminated against candle flames outside the Richmond Korean Presbyterian Church.
More than 60 people gathered recently in Southside Richmond for the candlelight vigil to commemorate the Atlanta shooting victims and to call attention to recent anti-Asian violence.
“We did not want to be here, but we are here because of the hate,” said Mahmud Chowdhury, chairman of the Asian American Society of Central Virginia. “Because of madness in some people's hearts and because of racism.”
The vigil was one of numerous events across Virginia this past March as communities, advocates and lawmakers came together in response to the murder of eight people in Atlanta. Six of the eight victims were Asian women. Police charged 21-year-old Robert Aaron Long, who is white, with eight counts of murder.
A “Stop the Hate” rally was held in Richmond’s West End three days after the vigil. Community leaders and dignitaries, such as Attorney General Mark Herring and State Sen. Jennifer McClellan, D-Richmond, spoke at the rally.
May Nivar, who is Asian American and chair of Gov. Ralph Northam’s Asian Advisory Board, said she attended the vigil to show support for her community.
“It’s important that we all stand together and stand not only together amongst our own community but also with other marginalized communities,” Nivar said.
Nivar also is a founding member and chair of the Asian & Latino Solidarity Alliance of Central Virginia and member of the Richmond chapter of Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities. She said fundamental local and federal legislative changes are needed to address anti-Asian discrimination.
“These vigils, they help bring the community together when we're hurting,” Nivar said. “However, the real change has to come at the root cause. And that's racism.”
Virginia Nascar icons Elliott and Hermie Sadler endorse Kirk Cox for Governor
Republican gubernatorial candidate Kirk Cox stood alongside Elliott and Hermie Sadler in Midlothian Thursday as they announced their support of his campaign for governor.
We are proud to call Kirk a friend and excited to see him become Virginia's next Governor," Hermie and Elliott said. "We know that he is a proven conservative, an honest and genuine leader, and that he understands what working Virginians want from their Governor. He will protect and champion small businesses, defend our Second Amendment rights, and never forget about the people of Southside Virginia."
"The Sadler family has been an institution both here in Virginia and in the stock car racing world for many years, and I could not be happier to have them on my team," said Cox. "They are small business owners and represent the very best of our Commonwealth, working hard every day to provide paychecks to their over 300 employees. They are competitive and never quit. They are exactly the kind of people you want fighting alongside you every single day."
Terry McAuliffe receives endorsement from civil rights icon, Henry Marsh
“Since I started fighting for civil rights more than 70 years ago, Virginia has made important strides, but our work is far from done. We are at a crossroads as we rebuild from this pandemic, and we need a leader with the plans, vision and experience to act boldly and deliver a more equitable and just Virginia. That leader is Terry McAuliffe, and I know he is going to do an incredible job as our next governor,” said civil rights leader, former state senator, and first Black Mayor of Richmond Henry Marsh. "Just as he has done before, as our next governor I know he will invest in education to give all of our children a shot at a better future. He will support Black-owned businesses to help them recover from COVID-19, fight the systemic racism that keeps too many Black families from owning homes, and create critical opportunities for wealth generation. And Terry will always protect our civil rights, because he knows that the right to vote is one of the most fundamental rights we have as Virginians and as Americans."
Judge weighing motion to dismiss Chase lawsuit over censure - Associated Press
by Sarah Rankin
A federal judge heard hours of arguments Thursday but did not immediately rule on whether to dismiss a lawsuit over the Virginia Senate’s decision to censure firebrand conservative Amanda Chase.
Chase, who is a Republican candidate for governor, filed the lawsuit in February, a few days after her colleagues passed the censure resolution on a bipartisan vote, denouncing her for a “pattern of unacceptable conduct.”
‘Election integrity’ becomes key buzzword in VA GOP race - Associated Press
By Matthew Barakat
Whether it’s tightening voter ID laws, making the Department of Elections politically independent, or cleaning up voter rolls, the candidates say change is necessary to restore integrity to the voting process.
But with a notable exception, the leading candidates are unwilling to say that their prioritization of the issue stems from a belief that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from Donald Trump.
AP-NORC poll: Majority in US back easier voter registration
By CHRISTINA A. CASSIDY and HANNAH FINGERHUT
Democrats’ proposals to overhaul voting in the U.S. won solid -- although not overwhelming -- support from Americans in a new survey measuring the popularity of major pieces of the sweeping legislation in Congress.
The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll found about half of Americans support expanding access to early and mail voting, while about 3 in 10 opposed the ideas and the rest had no opinion. Automatic voter registration was the most popular Democratic proposal in the survey, endorsed by 60% of Americans.
Any Virginian 16 and up will be able to receive the vaccine after April 18
Governor Ralph Northam announced Thursday that all individuals in Virginia age 16 and older will be eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine starting on Sunday, April 18, ahead of the May 1 nationwide goal set by President Joe Biden. Governor Northam made the announcement during a visit to a vaccination clinic at First Mount Zion Baptist Church in Prince William County, where more than 1,000 vaccines will be administered today.
This news comes as nearly every Virginian in the highest risk groups who has pre-registered for a vaccination appointment has received one, and those still on the pre-registration list will receive appointment invitations within the next two weeks.
“The COVID-19 vaccine is the light at the end of the tunnel—and that light is getting brighter every day as more and more Virginians get vaccinated,” said Governor Northam. “We continue to work with diverse providers and community partners across the Commonwealth to distribute vaccines in a fair and equitable way and ensure those at the highest risk are vaccinated first. Expanding vaccine eligibility to all adults marks an important milestone in our ongoing efforts to put this pandemic behind us, and I thank all of the public health staff, health care workers, vaccinators, and volunteers who have helped make this possible.”
With over 3.7 million doses of vaccine administered so far in Virginia, more than one in three adults have received at least one dose and one in five Virginians are fully vaccinated. Virginia is administering vaccine doses as quickly as they are provided by the federal government. Because the Commonwealth has followed guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to prioritize those at highest risk, and because Virginia is a large and diverse state with many essential workers, many out-of-state commuters, and a high percentage of the population that wants to be vaccinated, it has taken some time to open eligibility to the general public.
Stricter approach to late paperwork in Va. House races could end three Democratic primaries early - Virginia Mercury
by Graham Moomaw
Apparently fed up with paperwork coming in late, Virginia’s State Board of Elections has refused to extend a key campaign filing deadline this year, potentially affecting eight candidates running for the House of Delegates.
Three are Democrats looking to challenge incumbent lawmakers, meaning, if the decision stands, Dels. Luke Torian, D-Prince William, Betsy Carr, D-Richmond, and Patrick Hope, D-Arlington, may not face primary challengers after all. Because they represent strongly Democratic districts, their primary opponents being disqualified on technical grounds all but guarantees the incumbents will win re-election.
Virginia Supreme Court clears the way for Charlottesville to take down statue of Robert E. Lee - Washington Post
by Greg Schneider
The Supreme Court of Virginia has cleared the way for the city of Charlottesville to take down the statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee that was the focus of 2017's deadly Unite the Right rally, and the ruling appears to open the door for statue removals around the state.
The Charlottesville City Council voted to take down both the Lee statue and a nearby statue of Gen. Stonewall Jackson shortly after the rally in which white supremacists defended Confederate iconography, with one of them driving his car through a crowd of counterprotesters and killing a woman.