A contributor

Del. Marcus Simon, D-Falls Church-Fairfax, wrote a long email to constituents Oct. 21 regarding the Attorney General’s race.

He spent much of the missive on what the Attorney General does, and endorses fellow Democrat Jay Jones, but it’s a lukewarm endorsement at best.

Simon, an attorney himself, writes in part:

“The office of Attorney General in Virginia is often overlooked, buried down-ballot beneath the governor’s race and even some state legislative contests. But make no mistake: this office is one of the most consequential in the Commonwealth not only for its influence on Virginians’ daily lives, but for its power to check federal overreach when Washington veers off course. In the age of Donald Trump’s return to the White House, the party that holds this office will determine whether Virginia stands up for the rule of law or stands aside.”

Simon goes on, writing:  “During Trump’s first term, Democratic attorneys general from states like California, New York, and Massachusetts successfully blocked dozens of unlawful federal actions – from the travel ban to the rollback of environmental protections to efforts to dismantle the Affordable Care Act. If Virginia’s AG had joined those coalitions, the Commonwealth’s 8.8 million residents would have had a stronger voice in those national fights.”

If you visit the Virginia Office of the Attorney General web site, click the “About the Office” drop down button, you will not see any mention of the word “federal” in the duties and responsibilities of the AG, which is described as “the Commonwealth’s law firm. In addition to representing the interests of the people of Virginia, our clients are Virginia state government and the state agencies, boards and commissions that compose it. “

See for yourself.

There is NO mention of Simon’s argument that with Jones at the helm vs. Republican incumbent Jason Miyares “the office could once again serve as a counterweight, joining national efforts to protect the rule of law, fight censorship, and preserve basic rights under the U.S. and Virginia Constitutions.”

Sorry, Delegate Simon, but like Jay Jones, you don’t seem to know what the Virginia Attorney General is supposed to do.

Simon slaps incumbent Miyares as follows: 

Under Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares, Virginia has charted a different course that aligns closely with Trump-era priorities. Miyares has used his office to investigate locally elected prosecutors, issue politically charged “reports” on Commonwealth’s Attorneys he disagrees with, and withdraw Virginia from multi-state coalitions defending abortion rights, voting access, and environmental protections.

Again, “joining multi-state coalitions’ to thwart Trump is not in the job description. Simon’s attack on Miyares regarding “locally elected prosecutors” like Steve Descano in Fairfax County and Ramin Fatehi in Norfolk are well within his purview. Descanso and Fatehi have neglected to prosecute a number of criminal cases. No. 1 on the About the Office list is: “Conduct or assist criminal investigations and prosecutions in areas like child exploitation or child pornography, computer crimes, gang activities and other organized criminal enterprises, identity theft, violations of environmental law, theft of state property, and fraud against taxpayers.”

Worst, Simon says nothing about Jones’ qualities or his record in the House of Delegates. “I know Jay Jones will represent the best interests of the Commonwealth and protect the things my constituents in Falls Church care about the most.” THAT’S IT!

Simon says he won’t be “distracted by noise” in the campaign – code for the scandals involving Jones’ murder-fantasy texts to Del. Kerry Coyner, R-Chesterfield, or the sweetheart sentence of “community service” Jones got from the court for driving 116 miles per hour in a 65 mph zone, which he did for his PAC — a violation of Virginia law.

The reality is Jason Miyares’ record of results is not partisan and fulfills the mission of the A.G. He has won judgments against drug companies for opioids – which was multi-state litigation — and Republican politicians, like in scandal-plagued Purcellville.

Jettisoning him for an unqualified, 36-year-old spoiled brat who couldn’t pass a background check for a job with a local prosecutor or the A.G.’s office would truly show how low the Virginia electorate has sunk in the Age of Trump. Thankfully, Miyares is leading in the polls.

Name of contributor withheld by request.