(RepublicanDaily.org) – Jason Riley, the father of 22-year-old Laken Riley, the University of Georgia student who was murdered by an illegal migrant in February, scored “people on both sides” – including President Joe Biden – whom he said were using his daughter’s death for political gain.
Speaking on NBC News’ “Today” segment, Jason remembered his daughter as a “strong person” and expressed regret for not being there to protect his daughter when she was attacked.
“I wish I would have been there to protect her,” he told the news outlet, the first public interview he has given since his daughter was killed.
Laken was killed during a jog close to the University of Georgia campus. Her murderer, José Ibarra, an illegal alien from Venezuela, was charged with two other separate crimes on different occasions, and was released from custody in both instances. Authorities have also discovered that he may be connected to an organized crime syndicate in his home country. The reason why he killed Riley, however, is still unknown. The FBI said that it is working double-time to get justice for Riley’s murder.
Laken Riley’s death has become a rallying cry, especially for Republicans, who are using the murder to call for significantly more stringent security measures at the U.S.’ southern border, where thousands of migrants looking to enter the U.S. have massed. The sheer volume of migrants has placed undue stress on the limited resources of both federal and state agencies, as well as the border towns and sanctuary cities where many of these migrants end up. The chaos has also encouraged many to attempt to enter the U.S. illegally, crossing through gaps in the border wall and other points of entry.
“It’s incited a lot of people,” Jason said of his daughter’s killing. While he has said that he is a supporter of former president Donald Trump, Jason said that there are people from “both sides that have lashed out” at himself and Allyson Phillips, his ex-wife and Laken’s mother.
Copyright 2024, RepublicanDaily.org