The controversy surrounding Virginia Democratic Attorney General candidate Jay Jones has escalated with fresh accusations that he expressed support for killing law enforcement officers.

Newly revealed conversations allege that Jones told a colleague during a 2020 discussion about qualified immunity—legal protections for police—that “maybe if a few [cops] died, they would move on, not shooting people, not killing people.” The remarks were shared by Republican Delegate Carrie Coyner, who previously exposed Jones’ earlier text messages detailing violent fantasies against a GOP leader and his family.

Coyner accused Jones of suggesting that police deaths could reform law enforcement practices, calling the statements “unacceptable” and emphasizing that “killing people is never a justifiable method to achieve policy changes.” The Virginia Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) condemned the allegations in a letter urging Jones to withdraw from the race, stating his conduct “has no place in our society or democracy.”

Jones denied the latest claim, asserting in a statement that he “has never believed and do not believe that any harm should come to law enforcement,” while praising their service. However, no Democratic leaders have publicly called for his withdrawal. Republican Virginia gubernatorial candidate Winsome Earle-Sears joined critics in demanding Jones step down, as did several U.S. officials.

The Fraternal Order of Police reiterated its stance, declaring Jones “unfit for the office of Attorney General” and urging him to “hold himself accountable.” The scandal continues to intensify as voters weigh the allegations against Jones’ candidacy.