Jay Jones pushed to cancel cop who donated to Kyle Rittenhouse legal fund in 2021

A report from the Virginia Scope resurfaced online on Monday, with the headline reading, "Jay Jones is calling for the Norfolk PD officer's resignation if the Rittenhouse allegations are true."

At the time, an officer was revealed to have donated a mere $25 to Kyle Rittenhouse's legal fund. Rittenhouse in November 2021 acquitted for the charges of intentional homicide. Rittenhouse was found innocent and was determined to have shot his firearm in self-defense during the Black Lives Matter riots of 2020 in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

"We have to get to the bottom of this reported conduct, which is utterly disgusting,” Jones said in a statement on April 16, 2021, then a candidate for attorney general. “If these allegations are true, Officer Kelly must resign from the Norfolk Police Department immediately.”

He posted on social media at the time, "If true, Kelly has got to go. If we are going to repair and strengthen the fragile relationship between our communities and law enforcement and have a public that truly feels safe, we must have accountability in policing.

The report of the donation was made public by The Guardian, using information leaked in a data breach. Within a week, the officer in question, William K. Kelly III—who had served 18 years on the force—was fired from his post.