Virginia’s Democratic Attorney General, Jay Jones, has come under scrutiny following claims from former state delegate Carrey Coiner. She suggested that Jones implied fewer police shootings could occur if more officers faced fatal consequences due to the lack of legal protections.
Jones, who once led the Virginia House of Delegates, is facing pressure to resign after a text exchange from 2022 was disclosed. Coiner is bringing forth new allegations, mentioning a 2020 phone call where she expressed concerns about the dangers of removing legal protections for police. During that conversation, she stated that without such protections, more officers could be killed.
Jones reportedly responded, “Well, if a few of them die, they’ll move on rather than shooting people and killing people,” according to Coiner.
Previously, Jones had supported legislation to eliminate qualified immunity while serving in the legislature. In response to Coiner’s allegations, Jones firmly denied making such statements. He stated, “I never said this. I do not believe that law enforcement should be harmed, and police officers deserve our gratitude for their commitment to public safety.”
Coiner indicated that during a heated conversation in 2022, Jones had linked his support for police reforms to a need for personal repercussions. After their call, she texted him to object to his remarks, saying, “You were talking [hoping] Jennifer Gilbert’s children will die.” Jones replied, “Yes, I told you before this. They only move forward with policies when people feel personal pain.”
