A coalition of state attorneys general led by Montana’s Austin Knudsen is urging two major national prosecutor associations to deny Virginia Attorney General-elect Jay Jones membership over his past conduct. The group claims Jones’ actions in 2022 reveal lapses in judgment and temperament that make him unfit for the role.

Jones, a former Democratic state delegate from Norfolk, won a surprise victory over Republican AG Jason Miyares in a race that foreshadowed broader GOP losses statewide. Knudsen and at least five other attorneys general — including those from Alabama, Florida, Idaho, Nebraska, and Texas — signed a letter urging the Attorney General Alliance and the National Association of Attorneys General to reject Jones’ membership, according to FOX News.

“His conduct raises serious questions about his judgment, temperament, and fitness to serve as a state attorney general,” the letter reads. (RELATED: As Democrats Take Over The Legislature, Here’s What They’ve Got Planned)

The complaints center on text messages Jones sent in 2022 to outgoing Del. Carrie Coyner, R-Hopewell, that included “explicit fantasies of violence” against Republican lawmakers. Knudsen’s letter says Jones expressed a desire to harm opponents’ children and attend their funerals to desecrate graves. The attorneys general describe these messages as part of a pattern of leveraging “political success” through extreme rhetoric.

Jones has denied ever intending harm. He told the Virginia Scope that he “never believed and do not believe that any harm should come to law enforcement, period,” and publicly apologized for the texts, calling them embarrassing and shameful. He also personally apologized to former House Speaker Todd Gilbert.

The attorneys general, however, argue that Jones’ apology lacks full contrition and that allowing him to join the national associations would “be a stain on our institutions and an abject moral failure.” They emphasize that their objections are about accountability and public trust rather than partisan politics.

Jones’ rhetoric has drawn heightened scrutiny amid broader national concerns over political violence, including past assassination attempts on public figures.

His ability to gain membership in these professional organizations may set a precedent for how violent or extreme political language is treated within the legal community.