Another political storm is brewing in Virginia as Democratic Attorney General candidate Jay Jones faces serious accusations of violent rhetoric against police officers.
The Daily Caller reported that Republican Delegate Carrie Coyner claimed Jones made chilling remarks during a 2020 phone call, suggesting that the death of a few officers might deter further killings, while Jones flatly denies the accusation amid a backdrop of other troubling allegations, including threatening texts from 2022.
Let’s rewind to 2020, when Coyner alleges a heated phone conversation took place with Jones over a bill to strip qualified immunity from police officers—a protection shielding them from civil lawsuits.
Coyner, speaking to Virginia Scope, painted a stark picture of Jones’ stance, claiming he argued that losing a few officers might change police behavior.
“And he said, ‘Well, maybe if a few of them died, that they would move on, not shooting people, not killing people.’ And I said, ‘that’s insane,’” Coyner told Virginia Scope.
Now, let’s be real—suggesting officer deaths as a policy fix isn’t just misguided, it’s a dangerous overreach that ignores the split-second realities law enforcement faces daily; Jones, for his part, denies ever saying it, but the accusation stings nonetheless.
During his time in the House of Delegates, Jones co-sponsored legislation to eliminate qualified immunity, a move Coyner fiercely opposed, arguing it could endanger officers and the public by forcing hesitation in critical moments.
Coyner doubled down, explaining to Virginia Scope, “I said, ‘No, police officers have to make a split-second decision about whether or not to shoot a gun to protect themselves or protect others. And if they’re having to think about, will this strip my whole family of everything … are they going to be able to make that split-second decision?’”
Here’s the rub: while progressive policies often aim to reform policing, stripping protections like qualified immunity could leave officers vulnerable to ruin over decisions made in the heat of danger—hardly a recipe for safer streets.
Fast forward to August 2022, and the plot thickens with reports of threatening texts Jones allegedly sent to Coyner about former Republican House Speaker Todd Gilbert, including violent language and grotesque imagery.
Jones has since apologized for those messages, admitting to 8 News that they made him “sick to his stomach” and expressing shame, but the damage to his public image may already be done.
Sure, taking responsibility is a start, but when a candidate’s words veer into threats, it’s tough to see that as a mere slip—voters deserve leaders who debate with principle, not venom.
Adding to the mess, Jones faced criticism after a 2022 reckless driving incident, reportedly logging much of his community service hours with his own campaign committee, a move opponents like Jason Miyares have blasted as exploiting service for political gain.
Virginia GOP social media posts and a statement from Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears have called for Jones to exit the race, with Earle-Sears also questioning Abigail Spanberger’s ongoing support for him as a strike against her own credibility.
Look, everyone deserves a chance at redemption, but when community service looks more like campaign stumping and violent rhetoric keeps surfacing, it’s fair to ask if Jones is the right fit for a role as critical as Attorney General—Virginia’s law enforcement and citizens deserve better than this ongoing circus.