Georgia Gov. Kemp, after life sentence for Laken Riley killer, says justice ‘was swift and severe’

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp expressed satisfaction after a judge handed down a life sentence to Jose Antonio Ibarra, a 26-year-old migrant from Venezuela who was convicted of murdering Laken Riley. In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, Kemp stated that justice was served swiftly and decisively in the case.

Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student, was brutally attacked while jogging on a trail at the University of Georgia campus in Athens. Ibarra, who entered the U.S. illegally, was charged with her murder the following day. The trial, presided over by Judge H. Patrick Haggard of State Superior Court in Athens-Clarke County, saw Ibarra convicted and sentenced to life in prison.

The tragic circumstances of Riley’s murder garnered national attention, with President-elect Trump highlighting the case during his presidential campaign as a call for stricter immigration policies. Governor Kemp criticized President Biden’s border security measures, attributing Riley’s death to lax policies that have endangered lives across the country.

Kemp emphasized the impact of Riley’s murder on her family, friends, fellow students, and the entire state of Georgia, calling it a heartbreaking tragedy. He underscored the need for collaboration with the federal government to secure the border and prevent similar incidents from occurring in local communities.

The Governor’s remarks came shortly after he was elected chair of the Republican Governors Association, speaking from Marco Island, Florida. The conviction and sentencing of Ibarra marked a significant moment in the quest for justice for Laken Riley, whose memory will continue to be honored by those who knew and loved her.

Paul Steinhauser, a politics reporter based in New Hampshire, contributed to this report.