MSNBC was raked over the coals for publishing a piece that seemed to sympathize with the illegal alien who brutally murdered Laken Riley.
Jose Ibarra was sentenced Thursday to life in prison without the possibility of parole in the death of the 22-year-old nursing student who was attacked by the illegal migrant in February as she was out for a morning run near the University of Georgia campus.
An actual headline from MSNBC: “Laken Riley’s killer never stood a chance”
Ask yourself: Why is MSNBC writing sympathetic headlines for an illegal alien monster and killer?
Why is MSNBC’s “legal analyst” Danny Cevallos ok with this headline? https://t.co/hSfaMIUxqW pic.twitter.com/8YLarS5ba5
— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) November 22, 2024
An opinion piece by legal analyst Danny Cevallos was originally headlined, “Laken Riley’s killer never stood a chance.”
The headline and op-ed ignited fiery outrage and MSNBC appeared to change the headline on Friday morning to: “The guilt of Laken Riley’s killer was never in doubt.”
MSNBC changed its headline after the outrage… these people are so far gone it’s not even funny pic.twitter.com/GyqbUQvF11
— Charlie Cheon (@chinitocharlie) November 22, 2024
“Riley’s murder became a political rallying cry at this summer’s Republican National Convention because Ibarra entered the country illegally in 2022. But for all the political controversy, the outcome of this trial was never in doubt,” the MSNBC piece read.
“The verdict was going to be guilty. The sentence was going to be life without parole,” Cevallos wrote. “For the defense, this was a hopeless case. The defense did the best it could with bad facts. It almost surely knew it was going to lose.”
“The defense had no chance with a jury,” he continued.
“But it apparently had no chance with the judge, either, since he was convicted anyway. Still, the bench trial was a good call by the defense. Saving the judge from a pointless jury trial might have been Ibarra’s best chance at life with the possibility of parole,” Cevallos wrote.
“Sometimes defense counsel just gets handed a truly awful, unwinnable case,” the op-ed concluded. “The defense’s choice of a bench trial not only saved the state the resources of a wasted jury trial; it also likely avoided unnecessarily prolonging this traumatic experience for the victim’s family.”
Regardless of the legal analyst’s take, the piece and especially the headline set off a backlash.
Donald Trump Jr. accused MSNBC of “depravity.”
You literally can’t make up this level of depravity. These people are sick. The guy is a murderer. He’s an illegal alien that killed an innocent young woman but MSNBC would rather go to bat for him.
However, much you hate MSNBC it’s not enough! pic.twitter.com/3YSVmbbVBD— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) November 22, 2024
“What the f–k is this sh-t,” podcaster Joe Rogan wrote on X.
“Laken Riley’s killer is now the victim, according to MSNBC,” Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) wrote.
“Do they know who actually never stood a chance? Laken Riley. She was targeted by a vile criminal and fought for her life for 17 agonizing minutes,” Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) wrote. “This headline is repulsive.”
“This is NUTS. MSNBC should immediately apologize for this headline and to Laken Riley’s family and friends who’ve already been through unimaginable pain,” Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) wrote. “The last thing they need is mainstream media normalizing her killer.”
And the reactions continued, with Cevallos being buried in attacks on X.
You are a disgrace to your “professions”. He was guilty and should have received the death penalty.
— Ejhowe (@emmynurse) November 22, 2024
I expect nothing less from a morally bankrupt libtard who works for MSNBC.
— Gman2am (@gman_2am) November 22, 2024
And this is why MSNBC, the brand, is being sold off for pennies. pic.twitter.com/8FNrLjuaft
— Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) November 22, 2024
Keep it up msnbc https://t.co/eab7dhnxvg
— Adam Carolla (@adamcarolla) November 22, 2024
There are no words for how utterly reprehensible this headline is.
Shame on you @MSNBC. Your hypocrisy knows no bounds. How dare you accuse others of politicizing Riley’s murder while you obviously have your own political agenda.
This is why you lose. You are irrelevant. pic.twitter.com/381TrrLlEI
— Michael Clary (@dmichaelclary) November 22, 2024
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