Virginia’s Attorney General lays out top priorities coming into office

RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) - Virginia’s new attorney general is out with a stern warning about federal pressure on the commonwealth coming from The White House.

“My job is to enforce the laws on the books but to protect Virginians and our rights and our interests and our freedoms so if the president or this administration does anything that infringes on that, we will be standing there to defend this commonwealth. That was what I was elected to do. I’m ready to get to work to do that,” said Jay Jones, (D) Virginia Attorney General.

Jay Jones is making moves just moments after being sworn in.

The Democratic attorney general tells 12 On Your Side about his day one priorities and what we can expect from his office over the next four years.

“We are going to be joining three lawsuits. The first deals with consumer protection financial bureau, making sure that we protect that institution so that it can be a watch dog and keep money in people’s pockets so they don’t get ripped off,” said Attorney General Jones.

Jones says the other one is to protect healthcare coverage and then the final one is to protect federal workers who Jones says were unnecessarily laid off last year.

He’s also removing Virginia from several lawsuits back by his Republican predecessor.

Jones also telling 12 On Your Side that he will work to make Virginia more affordable through a newly created public advocacy division.

“A unit that will be fighting for Virginians every single day. To reorganize the office in a way that meets the needs of people here in the commonwealth right now to put money back in their pockets, to protect them and to deliver the results that we campaigned on over the course of the fall,” said Attorney General Jones.

12 On Your Side pressed Jones by asking him how he will handle ICE agents in the commonwealth.

The area has seen several arrests and roundups recently including one last week in Petersburg.

“People here in Virginia don’t feel safe because of what’s happening in Washington, and we want to make sure that we’re protecting the interests and rights of our citizens while also keeping our communities safe. I look forward to working with state and local law enforcement to ensure that our communities are protected and to protect the rights of all of our citizens here in Virginia,” said Attorney General Jones.

Jones also made history being Virginia’s first African American attorney general. He says he feels the weight of the responsibility.