Jay Jones, a candidate for Attorney General in Virginia, is urged to step down due to his remarks about the police.

Virginia AG Candidate Faces Controversy Over Alleged Remarks

Jay Jones, the Democratic candidate for attorney general in Virginia, is under fire after comments he allegedly made about police officers. Republican delegate Carrie Coiner reported that during a discussion about qualified immunity, Jones suggested that if more police officers were killed, it might lead to fewer police shootings.

Jones reportedly responded to Coiner with a statement implying that the loss of a few officers would cause others to reconsider their actions, “Well, if a few of them die, they’ll move on rather than shooting people,” he said.

This isn’t the first time Jones has faced backlash. Coiner previously disclosed a text exchange from 2022 in which Jones expressed violent sentiments towards Del Todd Gilbert and his family, stating that “Gilbert gets two bullets in his head.” Such messages have drawn intense scrutiny and calls for Jones to withdraw from the race.

In a statement, Coiner argued that advocating violence is entirely unacceptable and that anyone who views killing as a means to an end is unfit for public service. “It is never acceptable to think that killing people is a legitimate way to achieve policy changes,” she emphasized.

Jones has denied the recent claims against him, asserting that he never condones violence against law enforcement. “I never said this. I do not believe that law enforcement should be harmed. Police officers serve to protect our community, and I appreciate their sacrifices,” he stated.

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin has also commented on the situation, insisting that Jones should step down from the campaign due to his statements, labeling them as “over disqualified”. He quoted Jones’ words about Gilbert and expressed dismay over the violent implications.