Attorney General Jay Jones marked his first 100 days in office on May 2 by highlighting recent legal actions, the defense of voter rights, a major tobacco settlement, and recognition of public servants supporting crime victims.
The update from the Office of the Attorney General comes as Jones’s administration continues efforts to protect Virginians’ rights and ensure public safety. The Attorney General of Virginia provides legal counsel to state agencies while promoting public safety and defending constitutional rights, according to the official website.
Jones said his responsibility is to represent Virginians in court regarding redistricting certification: “My responsibility is to represent the people of Virginia, and whoever got the most votes wins. The votes have been tallied, the votes have been counted, and so now we’ll go to court to make sure that we enforce that, because voting is our most sacred and special right.” He also warned that blocked certification could invalidate millions of votes and affect upcoming primaries. “My office has been fighting to make sure that this is resolved quickly so that the people of Virginia have clarity as to what’s happening with our electoral processes here in the Commonwealth,” he said.
Reflecting on his administration’s work so far, Jones stated: “From the moment I was sworn into office on January 17, my team has been hard at work and I am so proud of the legal actions we have taken in our first 100 days.” He noted efforts such as lawsuits against corporations for anti-competitive practices and initiatives aimed at protecting federal workers’ rights. “Whether it be protecting our federal workers, protecting access to health care, protecting our children…we have a lot of work to do over the course of the next few months,” said Jones.
Jones announced nearly $110 million received from major tobacco companies under a settlement agreement. These funds will support healthcare costs related to smoking illnesses and provide economic opportunities for communities previously reliant on tobacco. “These funds will enable Virginia to continue enforcing our tobacco laws… My office will always hold those who do wrong by Virginians accountable,” he said.
During National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, Jones honored public servants who assist crime victims: “The people that we are recognizing don’t do this work for recognition. They do it because somebody needs to be heard.”
The Attorney General supports civil rights enforcement programs; addresses issues like human trafficking through advocacy; offers consumer protection resources; serves all residents across Virginia; and holds Miyares as its current (48th) attorney general according to information available on their official website (source).
A recent milestone was also marked with dedication ceremonies for memorials commemorating African American history at Fort Monroe.
