Conservative host slams Cory Booker for preaching against violent rhetoric while maintaining Jay Jones endorsement

Conservative commentator Michael Knowles criticized Democratic New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker during a Tuesday hearing for arguing against violent political rhetoric while maintaining his endorsement of Democratic Virginia attorney general nominee Jay Jones.

During the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, titled “Politically Violent Attacks: A Threat to Our Constitutional Order,” Booker decried political violence on both sides of the aisle and emphasized the importance of “self-introspection.” Knowles said Booker “made a good point” about needing to look inward, but highlighted the contradiction of backing Jones, whose endorsement Booker had not withdrawn as of Oct. 6, Fox News reported.

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“I can’t help but think of a line today: ‘Jay Jones has the vision, commitment, and integrity to keep families safe and make sure every Virginian gets a fair shake in the justice system. I’ll be working every day to ensure Jay wins this race,’” Knowles said.

“That’s the endorsement of Senator Booker for a man who would seek to be the attorney general of Virginia,” Knowles continued. “This is a man who … has called for a Republican to be murdered, for his children to be murdered, for the children to die in their mother’s arms in order to persuade the Republican to change his policy views, and a man who says that he would urinate on the graves of multiple Republicans.”

Jones made the violent comments Knowles referenced about then-Republican state House Speaker Todd Gilbert and Gilbert’s family in a 2022 text exchange with Republican House Del. Carrie Coyner, according to National Review on Oct. 3.

Knowles appeared to want to request Booker to address his endorsement, but noticed he had departed from the room. However, he continued his remarks.

“Senator Booker, I think, should practice what he preaches. Because this is the kind of moment you cannot have a professor who wants to teach students and is going to desire to kill half of them,” he said. “You certainly cannot have law enforcement officers who would engage in this kind of violent rhetoric against half of their constituents.”

“So long as anyone stands by an endorsement such as that, their words are meaningless,” he added. “They are shedding crocodile tears on the topic of political violence.”

Other Democrats, including Democratic Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine and Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, have also continued to support Jones or have refused to urge him to drop out.

Booker’s office did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.

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