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CNN’s Jake Tapper whines that Republicans are pointing out Laken Riley’s killer was an illegal

February 27, 2024 | | Print Article

CNN’s Jake Tapper is struggling with the facts.

During Monday’s edition of “The Lead,” the CNN host bellyached about how Republicans have pointed out that the suspect in the murder of University of Georgia student Laken Hope Riley was an illegal immigrant.

The facts aside, Tapper seemed to be less absorbed with the details of the crime and more focused on Republicans noticing reality as he whined that they were “seizing on this horrific tragedy.”

Tapper’s lament came after his own reporting on the “undocumented Venezuelan migrant” whose status “is now renewing the debate over immigration policies.”

“In fact, the suspect had already been arrested first in 2022 after entering the U.S. illegally; then again last September, charged with acting in a manner to injure a child less than 17; and also a motor vehicle license violation. The suspect was released before a detainer could be issued, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement or ICE,” Tapper noted.

“All of which, has prompted many in Georgia to wonder why this violent man was allowed to remain in the U.S. for so long after so many red flags,” he added.

Yet, oblivious to the irony, the CNN host pivoted next to how awful the Republicans were being over the reports.

“So, Republicans, obviously, seizing on this horrific tragedy at the University of Georgia. This girl, this nursing student, killed by an undocumented Venezuelan migrant. And they’re seizing on this as an example of Biden’s failure to protect the American people, to secure the border,” he said as if there were no connection.

Tapper then read a social media post by former President Donald Trump, seeming to suggest that this was an example of Republicans “seizing” on the fact that the suspect was in the U.S. illegally.

“Today, President Trump posted on his social media site, Truth Social, quote, ‘When I am your president, we will immediately seal the border, stop the invasion, and on day one, we will begin the largest deportation operation of illegal criminals in American history. May God bless Laken Riley and her family.’ That’s the poor nursing student that was killed. ‘Our prayers are with you.'”

Doug Heye, the former communications director of the Republican National Committee, joined Tapper’s lament, saying, “politics enter these things very quickly. And Donald Trump knows how to take advantage of a situation like this and exploit it.”

Social media users called out the CNN host for missing the mark, again.

 

Frieda Powers
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