Former President Bill Clinton admitted Sunday at a Harris-Walz campaign event in Fort Valley, Georgia, that the murder of an American girl might have been prevented if migrants entering the country were properly vetted.
The unexpected admission came as Clinton campaigned for Kamala Harris, inadvertently highlighting one of the key criticisms of her role as the Biden-Harris administration’s Border Czar.
Clinton, sporting a Harris-Walz campaign hat, referenced the murder of 22-year-old nursing student Laken Riley, who was reportedly killed by an immigrant.
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In a moment that could become a significant talking point for Republicans in the 2024 election, Clinton acknowledged the failure of the administration’s immigration policies. “You had a case in Georgia not very long ago. They made an ad about a young woman who had been killed by an immigrant,” Clinton said. “Yeah, well, if they had all been properly vetted, that probably wouldn’t have happened.”
Bill Clinton says Laken Riley’s death “probably wouldn’t have happened” if Kamala did her job at the border, continues on to imply that we need illegal immigrants for cheap labor.
He was supposed to be campaigning FOR Kamala. YIKES. pic.twitter.com/k55Ee8rVH3
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) October 14, 2024
Clinton’s comments underscore the ongoing criticism Harris has faced regarding her management of the southern border and her role in overseeing immigration policy.
As Border Czar, Harris has been accused by Republicans of failing to adequately address the crisis at the border, allowing unvetted migrants into the country.
This latest incident involving Clinton’s remarks could add fuel to those criticisms as the 2024 campaign heats up.
Following his acknowledgment of the need for proper vetting, Clinton attempted to shift the conversation, stating that immigrants should be vetted so they can fill jobs that Americans won’t take and help maintain birth rates.
However, his earlier admission may have already done damage.
Whether Clinton’s remarks were a genuine slip or a reflection of his true views on the issue, the statement has drawn attention to a weak spot in Harris’ candidacy.
This is not the first time that Harris has faced challenges regarding comments from top Democrats regarding her handling of various situations.
Earlier this month, Joe Biden praised Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for his efforts in preparing for and recovering from hurricanes.
Joe Biden, for the second time this week, counter-programmed Kamala Harris while she was on The View, contradicting Harris by saying that Gov. DeSantis has been “cooperative” and “doing a great job.”
Kamala yesterday accused Gov. DeSantis of “playing political games” with the… pic.twitter.com/5Yiutyd4KW
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) October 8, 2024
At the same time, Harris had been involved in a public spat with DeSantis, accusing him of refusing to take her phone calls regarding the disaster.
Biden’s public commendation of DeSantis was seen by some as undermining Harris’ position and further complicating her role within the administration.
As the 2024 election approaches, immigration is expected to remain a critical issue for voters, and Clinton’s comments may provide Republicans with an additional point of attack against Harris and the Biden-Harris administration’s border policies.
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