GOP rips White House for ‘pathetic’ statements on Rachel Morin, Jocelyn Nungaray killings: ‘Weak leadership’
Republicans slammed the White House for its “pathetic” and “shameful” statements on the killings of Rachel Morin and Jocelyn Nungaray — which never mentioned they were murdered by illegal immigrants
Morin, 37, was raped and murdered on a Maryland hiking trail in August 2023.
Earlier this month, Victor Antonio Martinez Hernandez, 23, a native of El Salvador who entered the US illegally, was arrested and charged with the crime.
The body of Jocelyn Nungaray, 12, was found near a creek in Houston on Monday.
Johan Jose Rangel Martinez, 21, and Franklin Jose Pena Ramos, 26, both from Venezuela, were charged with the killing.
The White House issued statements on both incidents this week – failing to mention that all three suspects were in the US illegally.
Kim George, a Republican congressional candidate in Arkansas, slammed both statements as “pathetic.”
“Weak leadership is to blame for these senseless deaths. Nothing can be said to change what happened, but the families deserve better. They deserve #justice,” she wrote.
“Yet another American family is destroyed by Joe Biden’s open border.” wrote Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL).
“We MUST secure our border NOW.”
Donald Trump’s presidential campaign also chimed in on the controversy.
“Crooked Joe Biden is a disgrace,” the campaign’s “war room” account wrote on X.
“The brutal murders of these Americans is on the hands of Biden — and the evil Biden migrants he released into our country.”
A White House spokesperson told Fox News Digital on Tuesday “We extend our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Rachel Morin.”
“We cannot comment on active law enforcement cases. But fundamentally, we believe that people should be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law if they are found to be guilty.”
Follow along with The Post's reporting on Jocelyn Nungaray's murder
- The illegal Venezuelan migrants accused of murdering Jocelyn Nungaray in Houston lured the 12-year-old girl under a bridge, where they stripped her naked to the waist and assaulted her for two hours, disturbing new court documents allege.
- Both Johan Jose Martinez-Rangel and Franklin Jose Peña Ramos were seen on surveillance video entering a 7-Eleven with Jocelyn the night she was killed and before the two walked her to a bridge, where her body was later found half-naked and strangled.
- Peña, 26, and Martinez-Rangel, 21, allegedly bound Jocelyn’s hands behind her back during the brutal assault, then strangled her and dumped her body in a bayou.
- Department of Homeland Security sources said Peña crossed into El Paso, Texas, on May 28. He was released soon after his interaction with border agents.
- Jocelyn fought back against her attackers after she was lured under the bridge and assaulted — leaving scratch and bite marks on one of the illegal migrants who is accused of killing her.
- Peña was given an ankle monitor when he was released into the US after being caught at the border in May, according to Homeland Security sources. He reportedly cut off the monitor after Jocelyn’s body was found.
- Republicans slammed the White House for its “pathetic” and “shameful” statements on the killings of Jocelyn and Maryland mother of five Rachel Morin — which never mentioned they were murdered by illegal immigrants
On Friday, a White House spokesperson issued a nearly identical statement to NBC News about Nungaray.
“Our hearts go out to the family and loved ones of Jocelyn Nungaray,” the comment read.
“We cannot comment on active law enforcement cases,” the spokesperson continued.
“But fundamentally, anyone found guilty of this type of heinous and shocking crime should be held accountable, to the fullest extent of the law.”
Rachel Morin’s mother said this week that former President Trump phoned her to express his condolences.
“I am deeply touched by President Trump’s kindness and concern,” Patty Morin said.
“He was genuine and truly wanted to know how our family was coping,” she added.
“He asked about Rachel and showed honest compassion for her untimely death.
The grieving mom also criticized the Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Majorkas for referring to her daughter as an “individual” during an interview.
“It totally depersonalizes her and makes her an object,” Patty said, adding that no one from the Biden administration reached out to her family since her daughter’s alleged killer was arrested.
