Progressive activists have argued that qualified immunity has been abused and shields police officers from punishment for misconduct, particularly in cases of police brutality toward minorities. "We're going to protect qualified immunity, and my opponent is going to get rid of it," Youngkin said. Asked by a moderator if he would end qualified immunity, McAuliffe said, "No, I would not end it." Youngkin accused McAuliffe of flipping his position from the one he had held during the Democratic primary. In an April statement from McAuliffe's campaign, spokesman Jake Rubenstein said the candidate supported ending "policies like qualified immunity that can prevent accountability when heinous acts are committed against Virginians."

Source: CNN September 17, 2021 02:03 UTC