Two Virginia lawmakers are calling for legal action against a former Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Health nurse who allegedly urged others to harm ICE agents. The nurse, who has since been dismissed from her position, is at the center of a controversy that has drawn attention from both state and federal authorities.
“Firing her for what essentially amounts to inciting healthcare-related violence was the straightforward step, and I commend VCU for acting swiftly,” said State Senator Glen Sturtevant, a Republican from Chesterfield, in a statement to Fox News Digital on Thursday. “The next step is understanding the progress of the law enforcement investigation and its outcomes. Given the seriousness of her actions, it’s hard to imagine she won’t face charges, whether under state law or possibly involving the Department of Justice.”
Sturtevant further remarked on the gravity of the situation, stating, “She was advocating for poisoning federal law enforcement officers for political motives, simply for performing their duties, which is unacceptable.”
In addition to her dismissal, Sturtevant suggested that Malinda Cook, the nurse in question, should also have her nursing license revoked.
The incident gained widespread attention after Cook’s TikTok videos, which reportedly contained the controversial statements, went viral. VCU Health confirmed on Tuesday evening that they had terminated Cook’s employment following the online backlash.
VCU Health announced Tuesday evening that it had fired Cook after a series of her TikTok videos went viral.
In one video, simply captioned with “#ice #resistance #sabotage,” the nurse instructed others to use a “sabotage tactic” against opponents.
“I thought of something good,” she said.
“Sabotage tactic, or at least scare tactic. All the medical providers, grab some syringes with needles on the end,” she said. “Have them full of saline or succinylcholine, you know, whatever. Whatever. That will probably be a deterrent. Be safe.”
Succinylcholine is an anesthetic that causes rapid, short-acting muscle paralysis. The paralytic effect typically lasts for four to six minutes.
After the posts sparked fury online, VCU completed a swift investigation before parting ways with Cook.
“Following an investigation, the individual involved in the social media videos is no longer employed by VCU Health,” the hospital told Fox News Digital in a Tuesday night statement. “In addition, VCU Health has fulfilled its reporting requirements under Virginia state law.”
A Virginia Commonwealth University nurse’s TikTok video from Jan. 14, 2026, has gone viral after it was posted by LibsOfTikTok on X. (Credit: @mindarosa8/TikTok)
Thursday, VCU police confirmed they were investigating the posts.
“It is advocating for left-wing political terrorism is, I think, is what it comes down to at the end of the day, and it wasn’t even really just advocating for it,” Sturtevant said. “It was also explaining to people how to engage in it, and promoting it and giving details and, showing how people can break the law, to poison and hurt federal law enforcement in the engagement of their duties enforcing the law.”
Sturtevant is hopeful that if state law enforcement doesn’t step in, the Department of Justice will. He also demanded that VCU explain how Cook came to be employed and remained employed, later noting that it appeared that at least some of Cook’s posts were made on hospital grounds.
ICE agents stand at the scene where a woman was fatally shot earlier in the day during an enforcement operation on Jan. 7, 2026, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Christopher Juhn/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Wren Williams is a Republican member of the Virginia House of Delegates, representing the 47th District.
“I think she needs to be prosecuted,” Williams said. “This person needs to be made an example. She is advocating for the harm of others. I think she needs to lose her medical license. Who can trust this woman to do right and offer care?”
Speaking on violent rhetoric coming from the political left, Williams said Democrats have been encouraging the practice for some time.
“And then they justify, and they say that is the type of action that’s needed to make change,” he said.
“You know who said that? Jay Jones, in his text messages when he said [former House of Delegates Speaker] Todd Gilbert needs to lose his children to gun violence in order for him to change his stance on firearm policy. That’s what he said, and he is the sitting attorney general of Virginia.”
Neither VCU Health nor Cook returned requests for comment.
