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MSNBC claimed that “Laken Riley’s killer never stood a chance” in the murder trial, sparking immediate backlash. It has since revised its headline to cushion the language — though it is equally twisted.

“Laken Riley’s killer never stood a chance,” reads the original headline.

“The guilt of Laken Riley’s killer was never in doubt,” reads the new headline. 

Apparently, MSNBC hopes readers will give the outlet a pass for repeatedly defending Riley’s savage murderer, Jose Ibarra.

Ibarra attacked Riley, a 22-year-old student at the Augusta University College of Nursing, while she was jogging in February. He tried to rape her, but she fought back, and he smashed her skull with a rock. Riley called 911, but Ibarra ultimately killed her.

A court sentenced Ibarra to life in prison on Wednesday for the brutal slaying in Georgia. Ibarra has been in the country illegally since 2022. Prosecutors did not pursue the death penalty, but officials are still demanding it. 

MSNBC’s brazen minimization of this horrific attack has drawn criticism from figures including Joe Rogan, Republican Rep. Mary Miller, and Donald Trump Jr. 

The outlet has a history of defending Riley’s killer. President Joe Biden botched Riley’s name as “Lincoln” instead of “Laken” during a State of the Union address, referring to her killer as an “illegal” during the remarks.

But while interviewing Biden, MSNBC’s Jonathan Capehart decided not to take issue with Biden getting Riley’s name wrong, but with Biden calling Ibarra an illegal.

“You used the word ‘illegal’ when talking about the man who allegedly killed Laken Riley,” Capehart said.

“Undocumented — an undocumented person. I shouldn’t have used ‘illegal,’ it’s ‘undocumented,’” Biden seemingly apologized.

Capehart is also a member of The Washington Post’s editorial board. While hosting a podcast for the outlet, he acted so condescendingly toward conservative guest Hugh Hewitt that Hewitt stormed off the set, quitting the show — and his columns for the outlet.

MSNBC was also one of the worst purveyors of the conspiratorial claim that former President Donald Trump’s rally at Madison Square Garden had “Nazi” ties, as The Federalist previously reported. 

The outlet has shown time and time again that it will twist the facts for partisan gain. Even, apparently, when it means defending a killer. 

Logan Washburn is a staff writer covering election integrity. He graduated from Hillsdale College, served as Christopher Rufo’s editorial assistant, and has bylines in The Wall Street Journal, The Tennessean, and The Daily Caller. Logan is originally from Central Oregon but now lives in rural Michigan.