Attorney General Jay Jones responded on Apr. 2 to a $2.5 million advertising campaign in Virginia, funded by billionaire Peter Thiel and linked to former President Donald Trump, that targets Black and senior voters ahead of the April 21 redistricting referendum.
The issue has drawn attention because the advertisements reportedly use imagery from the Civil Rights Movement and Jim Crow era while presenting what officials say is a false claim about President Obama’s stance on the measure. The ads have been described as misleading and racially charged.
Jones said, “Peter Thiel, one of Donald Trump’s top billionaire backers, is spending millions in Virginia to push a campaign built on lies and racial division. These ads deliberately exploit the history of Jim Crow and the Civil Rights Movement to mislead Black voters and suppress participation. That is not just offensive. It is a modern playbook for voter suppression. My family lived through Jim Crow in Virginia. That history is not a political prop for Trump’s allies to weaponize to rig elections and manipulate voters. Virginians deserve facts, not fear. I will continue to stand up for civil rights, defend the integrity of our elections, and call out any effort to deceive voters and undermine our democracy.”
The Attorney General of Virginia supports civil rights enforcement initiatives as well as victim assistance programs according to its official website. The office also provides legal counsel for state agencies while working toward public safety goals and defending constitutional rights as detailed online.
The Attorney General serves all residents across the Commonwealth of Virginia according to official information, addressing issues such as human trafficking and domestic violence through legal advocacy efforts as reported by its website. Services offered include consumer protection resources focused on identity theft prevention and fraud reporting as noted online.
Miyares currently holds office as the 48th Attorney General of Virginia according to official records.
