The verdict involving the death of Kate Steinle has been announced and the president isn't happy. After hearing the news of a not guilty ruling, Donald Trump took to Twitter.
Trump on Kate Steinle
In 2015, Kate Steinle was walking with her family on the San Francisco waterfront when she was fatally shot by a bullet. The bullet came from the gun of Jose Ines Garcia Zarate, an illegal immigrant from Mexico who had previously been deported five different times. Zarate's defense claimed that he accidentally shot her after aiming for the pier. Due to San Francisco being a sanctuary city, Steinle's death quickly became a hot topic in the world of politics.
After announcing his plan to run for president in 2015, Trump used the tragedy as part of his talking point to push for stricter boarder control and immigration laws, in particular getting rid of all funding for sanctuary cities. Steinle's death became the inspiration behind "Kate's Law," which aims at harsher punishment for illegal immigrants who enter the United States after being previously deported. On Thursday night, a verdict in the trial involving Steinle's death was reached, with the jury in San Francisco finding Zarate not guilty of assault with a firearm. In response, Trump gave his thoughts during a tweet on November 30.
A disgraceful verdict in the Kate Steinle case! No wonder the people of our Country are so angry with Illegal Immigration.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 1, 2017
Taking to Twitter on Thursday night, Donald Trump expressed his frustration with the not guilty verdict of Jose Ines Garcia Zarate.
"A disgraceful verdict in the Kate Steinle case!" Trump tweeted.
Not stopping there, Donald Trump continued with his anger. "No wonder the people of our Country are so angry with Illegal Immigration," Trump concluded. As of press time, it's unknown whether the president or Republicans in congress will push for additional action on immigration in response to the verdict.
I am disappointed and angry at the not guilty verdict for Jose Ines Garcia Zarate, an illegal alien who had several felony convictions & was deported from the US five times. Justice must be served for Kate Steinle. https://t.co/IxiL9WCU50
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) December 1, 2017
GOP reaction
In addition to Donald Trump lashing out at the verdict, other top Republicans expressed their thoughts.
"I am disappointed and angry at the not guilty verdict for Jose Ines Garcia Zarate, an illegal alien who had several felony convictions & was deported from the US five times," Texas Sen. Ted Cruz tweeted out.
U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions expressed displeasure over the Steinle murder trial verdict in a statement that claimed San Francisco's decision to release Zarate "led to the preventable and heartbreaking death of Kate Steinle." Read more: https://t.co/meMWBLyAVc pic.twitter.com/sxTphChdM7
— NBC News (@NBCNews) December 1, 2017
Attorney General Jeff Sessions also released a statement, which was in line with the president and Ted Cruz. "When jurisdictions choose to return criminal aliens to the streets rather than turning them over to federal immigration authorities, they put the public’s safety at risk," Sessions said. While Zarate was found not guilty of assault with a firearm, he was found guilty of a felony for being in possession of a firearm, and will be sentenced for that crime at a later date.
