Sessions DOJ Weighing Federal Charges Against Jose Ines Garcia Zarate in Kate Steinle Case

Americans are furious after Jose Ines Garcia Zarate, an illegal alien from Mexico, was found not guilty on murder and manslaughter charges for shooting Kate Steinle dead in San Francisco.

NBC Bay Area reporter Riya Bhattacharjee broke news of the verdict on Twitter:

“Jury finds Jose Ines Garcia Zarate not guilty in 1st or 2nd degree murder in the fatal shooting of Kate Steinle, not guilty in invol. manslaughter. Guilty of possession of a firearm. Jury unanimously finds Mexican man at center of national immigration debate not guilty of murder in San Francisco pier shooting. Jury finds him not guilty of crime w/ assault w/ semi-automatic firearm,” tweeted Bhattacharjee.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions blasted the verdict, singling out the city of San Francisco’s “decision to protect criminal aliens.”

“I urge the leaders of the nation’s communities to reflect on the outcome of this case and consider carefully the harm they are doing to their citizens by refusing to cooperate with federal law enforcement officers.”

Below is Sessions’ full statement:

“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. San Francisco’s decision to protect criminal aliens led to the preventable and heartbreaking death of Kate Steinle.

“While the State of California sought a murder charge for the man who caused Ms. Steinle’s death—a man who would not have been on the streets of San Francisco if the city simply honored an ICE detainer—the people ultimately convicted him of felon in possession of a firearm. The Department of Justice will continue to ensure that all jurisdictions place the safety and security of their communities above the convenience of criminal aliens. I urge the leaders of the nation’s communities to reflect on the outcome of this case and consider carefully the harm they are doing to their citizens by refusing to cooperate with federal law enforcement officers.”

According to ABC News reporter Pierre Thomas, the Justice Department may pursue federal charges against Jose Ines Garcia Zarate.

“JUST IN: The Justice Department may pursue federal charges against defendant in Kate Steinle case, law enforcement official tells @ABC News”

Following the verdict former Fox News host Bill O’Reilly called on the Justice Department to file federal charges.

“It is now on Attorney General Sessions to charge Kate Steinle’s killer with serious immigration violations. This is a litmus test for Mr. Sessions,” tweeted O’Reilly.

 

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