Laken Riley’s father was interviewed by NBC reporter Priscilla Thompson for The Today Show on Monday. He was asked about how he felt about Laken’s memory being used in the Biden border crisis political battle.
Jason Riley said it makes him angry. He said she is “being used somewhat politically.”
“It makes me angry,” he said. “She was much better than that. She should be raised up for the person that she is.”
It’s an understandable reaction. He’s a grieving father. His precious daughter was just murdered by a man who has no business being in our country. Is he angry about the open border?
Speaking publicly for the first time since his daughter’s death, Jason Riley was asked during an interview with NBC’s “Today” whether he thinks a stronger immigration policy would have made a difference after his daughter’s slaying ignited a debate about the current border crisis plaguing the Biden administration.
“We have no idea if that would have changed anything, but he’s here illegally,” Jason Riley said. “That he might not have been here had we had secure borders.”
He’s not a political man. Media reports published photos of the Riley family, including Jason, meeting with former President Donald Trump before Trump’s rally in Georgia last week. As far as I know, Joe Biden has not called Laken’s parents to offer his condolences. Trump called them soon after Laken’s body was identified.
The only time Joe Biden has said Laken’s name publicly was during the State of the Union address. Rep. Majorie Taylor Greene, who represents Riley’s district in Georgia, heckled Biden during the speech to “say her name.” He held up a pin with her face and name on it but called Laken by the name Lincoln. He added insult to injury. He ignored Laken’s murder because the southern border was wide open during his watch until he could no longer ignore it. Then he got her name wrong.
Laken Riley’s mother, Allyson Phillips, has expressed her anger about her daughter’s murder, describing it as an “avoidable tragedy” in a Facebook post.
“As I sat down to write this message, I really just have no words,” Phillips wrote on Facebook. “My family has faced the most devastating, unimaginable loss that anyone could ever be force [sic] to endure. I would like to thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for being with me and my family during this heartbreaking time. I encourage everyone to have a personal relationship with Jesus. I give Him all the glory for getting us through this.”
She added that “[i]t would be really easy to lose our faith in mankind because of this senseless and avoidable tragedy,” but said her family has received an overwhelming “amount of love, support and help” during what she described as a “horrific nightmare.”
“I can’t begin to tell you all how much we appreciate all of the text, calls, flowers, meals, groceries, bows, pictures, personal gifts, memorials, gift cards and donations to Laken’s foundation,” she said. “We are beyond grateful for everyone who has stepped up to be here for us through this difficult time. The outpouring of love has been so enormous – that I felt this was the best way to thank you all in a timely manner. I hope that each and every one of you know how much we love you and appreciate all you have done.”
Phillips asked the public to “continue to pray” for her family as they “put one foot in front of the other moving forward.” She also changed her profile picture to a photo of a black and red heart – UGA’s colors – featuring Laken’s name, along with the hashtag #sayhername.
It’s a heartbreaking story. Laken should be alive and going to her nursing school classes. Joe Biden continues to ignore the southern border. More illegal alien crime is reported each day. All of those crimes were avoidable. In Laken’s case, Biden has blood on his hands.