Donald Trump’s lawyer, Alina Habba, responded to concerns about President Joe Biden potentially facing legal action following the death of nursing student Laken Riley. Habba emphasized that resorting to legal action is not always the ideal solution.
A 26-year-old Venezuelan migrant named Jose Antonio Ibarra has been taken into custody under suspicion of killing Riley in Athens, Georgia. UGA Police Chief Jeffrey Clark revealed on Friday that Ibarra is not a U.S. citizen, stating, “At the moment, I am unsure about his complete immigration status.”
As tensions at the southern border continue to grow, Republicans are placing blame on Biden amidst investigations into Riley’s death.
The president is facing criticism from both sides of the political aisle for his handling of the U.S.-Mexico border, as the country continues to witness a significant influx of migrants. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data reveals that there were over 2.4 million encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border in the 2023 fiscal year, a noticeable increase from the approximately 1.7 million encounters recorded in 2021.
According to Republicans, the increase in migrants can be attributed directly to Biden’s border policies, which they claim encourage illegal immigration. However, experts have pointed out that there are other factors at play, such as political and financial instability in certain Central American countries, which also contribute to the migration to the U.S.
During a Newsmax interview on Sunday, host Lidia Bastianich posed a question to Habba regarding the possibility of suing Biden over Riley’s death and whether the president bears responsibility for it.
Habba stated that she holds Biden accountable for the situation, but she also emphasizes the importance of prioritizing border security rather than relying solely on lawsuits.
“Lawsuits and litigation, unfortunately, aren’t always the solution. They can be time-consuming, unless you’re Trump. They take up valuable time. In my opinion, it’s more crucial to prioritize securing our borders rather than wasting time pursuing financial gains through legal means,” expressed Habba.
Habba further elaborated on her position, highlighting the legal claim of presidential immunity in Trump’s Washington, D.C. election interference case.
“It’s a challenging question for me to address as I serve as an attorney for a former president. Presidents possess immunities that should be upheld, and I genuinely believe in that notion. Immunity is essential for presidents to effectively carry out their responsibilities. And I’m referring to all presidents,” Habba emphasized.
I have emailed Habba’s office and the White House for comment, as requested by Newsweek.
Earlier this month, a federal appeals court made a significant ruling stating that Trump cannot claim immunity from criminal prosecution. This decision now allows special counsel Jack Smith to pursue charges against Trump for his alleged actions in trying to overturn the 2020 presidential election. In August 2023, the Department of Justice (DOJ) indicted Trump for his supposed involvement in the U.S. Capitol riot that took place on January 6, 2021. Despite the charges, Trump has maintained his innocence and has argued that the case against him is driven by political motivations.
Trump, the leading candidate for the 2024 presidential election from the GOP, has expressed his intention to challenge the verdict in the Supreme Court. This implies that the trial, which was initially scheduled for March 4, 2024, but has already been postponed, might face further delays until the Court’s ruling is reached.
Georgia Rep. Mike Collins, a Republican from Athens, recently took to social media to express his views on the tragic death of Riley. In a post on X, Collins held President Biden and U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas accountable for the incident. Additionally, he criticized the sanctuary city status of Athens for its role in the unfortunate event.
Georgia state senator Jason Esteves, a Democrat, responded to Republicans on X by highlighting the need to respect the grieving process of Laken Riley’s family. He emphasized that using their tragedy for political gain is inappropriate. Esteves also pointed out that concerns about border security should be directed towards former President Donald Trump, who influenced Republicans in Washington DC to reject a bipartisan border security bill.