Steve Cortes, Founder of the League of American Workers, expressed concerns about Jay Jones’ alignment with Steve Descano, describing it as a “dangerous approach to justice and public safety.”
“Jay Jones didn’t just choose a campaign co-chair, he chose a symbol of everything wrong with Virginia’s justice system,” said Cortes. “Steve Descano has turned Fairfax into a criminal’s playground, refusing to prosecute thugs while families pay the price. Jason Miyares stands for law, order, and the safety of every neighborhood. Jones and Descano stand for excuses, chaos, and handcuffs on police.”
According to data obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request and reported by the Fairfax GOP, Steve Descano, who has served as the Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney since 2020 and is now Jay Jones’ campaign co-chair, has filed fewer felony cases and pursued fewer convictions during his tenure. Between 2020 and 2022, Descano reportedly filed approximately 4,661 felony cases—nearly half (a decrease of 49.4%) compared to his predecessor’s filings from 2017 to 2019. During this period, the number of felony cases reaching resolution decreased by 41%, while dismissals and motions to drop charges increased from 24% to 36.3%.
In May 2024, Jay Jones announced via press release that he had selected Steve Descano as his campaign co-chair for his run for Attorney General in Virginia.
Sean Kennedy, President of Virginians for Safe Communities, criticized Descano’s performance in a statement reported by ABC7News. Kennedy said that despite a rise in crime rates in 2023, prosecutions were down: “Steve Descano is doing less with more … Descano quits or loses more often than he wins – but the citizens of Fairfax are the real losers, denied justice and less safe under his watch.”
Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares has also voiced criticism against Descano’s approach to criminal prosecution. In a press release, Miyares cited several cases as evidence that Descano is failing to protect the public. He accused Descano of prioritizing ideological agendas over victims’ safety and said: “Steve Descano has turned Fairfax County into a safe haven for criminals and a nightmare for law-abiding families. Once again, he puts criminals first, victims last, and our communities at risk.”
Cortes serves as Founder and President of the League of American Workers and is a senior political advisor to CatholicVote. He previously held positions as a senior advisor to President Trump and JD Vance and worked as a commentator for Fox News and CNN. Cortes regularly releases documentaries and columns on cortesinvestigates.com.
