In a recent political event, former President Bill Clinton sparked controversy with his remarks regarding the tragic death of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley.
His comments, which suggested that Riley's death could have been prevented with stricter border control, were perceived as a veiled criticism of the current Biden-Harris administration.
According to Fox News, Clinton was campaigning for Vice President Kamala Harris in Georgia when he criticized former President Trump for allegedly sabotaging bipartisan border negotiations for political gain. He referenced the case of Riley, who was reportedly murdered by an illegal immigrant. Clinton argued that had the perpetrator been "properly vetted," Riley's life could have been spared.
Clinton stated, "On the immigration thing, [Kamalas] the only candidate who has actually endorsed a bill that would hold down immigration any given year to a certain point and then made sure we gave people a decent place to live, didn't divide people from their children. And we did total vetting before people got in. Now, Trump killed the bill. The bill was being written by senior Republicans in the Senate, and he killed the bill. Why?"
He further added, "You had a case in Georgia not very long ago, didn't you? They made an ad about it, a young woman who had been killed by an immigrant. Yeah, well, if they'd all been properly vetted that probably wouldn't have happened. But if theyre all properly vetted, that doesnt happen."
Clinton's comments were met with a wave of criticism, with many seeing them as an unintentional endorsement of Trump's policies. Critics pointed out that Riley's death occurred under the Biden-Harris administration, suggesting a failure on their part to implement effective border control measures.
Among the critics was Sen. Josh Hawley's communications director, Abigail Jackson, who quipped, "Harris campaign must be kicking themselves for dragging Bill out on the trail." Fox News contributor Guy Benson acknowledged Clinton's recognition of Riley's murder and agreed that her alleged killer, an illegal immigrant, "wasnt properly vetted by the Biden-Harris admin."
OutKick's Clay Travis echoed these sentiments, stating, "Bill Clinton says Laken Riley would still be alive if Kamala and Biden had done their job and vetted border crossings." Donald Trump Jr. also chimed in, blaming Border Czar Kamala Harris for "allowing the illegal alien who murdered Laken Riley into our country."
The alleged murderer, Jose Antonio Ibarra, was first encountered by Customs and Border Patrol on Sept. 8, 2022, after illegally entering near El Paso, Texas. He was "paroled and released for further processing," only to be arrested again in New York City on Aug. 31, 2023. Riley's life was tragically cut short on Feb. 22.
While Clinton's comments have stirred controversy, they have also reignited the debate on immigration policies and border control, underscoring the need for comprehensive and effective measures to ensure public safety.
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