The mom of a California woman reportedly killed by an illegal Mexican immigrant tells INSIDE EDITION that Donald Trump is using her for political gain.
A horrifying killing in San Francisco is adding fuel to the fire over immigration. Thirty-two-year-old Kathryn Steinle was taking a stroll with her father along a popular pier when she was shot to death by an illegal Mexican immigrant for no apparent reason. Francisco Sanchez has already been deported from the U.S. an astounding five times.
In a jailhouse interview, Sanchez made it clear he did it but it was an accident.
Kathryn’s heartbroken parents say they hope politics won't enter the mourning over their daughter's death.
Her father told reporters: "She was just a young woman, starting to be in her prime. Had so much to live for and to die so senselessly is terrible."
Kathryn's heartbroken parents, Jim Steinle and Liz Sullivan, later spoke to INSIDE EDITION's Megan Alexander about their daughter’s final moments.
Her father said: “We went for a walk and walked down to the pier, looked out over the pier, turned around and came back and heard a pop. Katlyn went down and said, ‘Help me, dad.’”
Her parents want the world to know about their daughter's great spirit.
“She was just a blossoming young woman finding her way in this world. It was just such a beautiful thing to see,” said Liz.
In a statement Donald Trump points to the killing and says Kathryn violent death is exactly what he's talking about. He said: "This is an absolutely disgraceful situation and I am the only one that can fix it. Nobody else has the guts to even talk about it. That won't happen if I become president."
Alexander asked the emotional parents: “What did you make of Donald Trump commenting on the tragedy and calling for a tougher policy on illegal immigration?”
“You know, he is using it for his political platform,” Liz said.
“We have no comment,” her father interjected.
Katheryn's family has set up a GoFundMe page to send donations in her honor. For more information, click here.
Meanwhile, the other Republican Party candidates are directing their fire at Trump.
Jeb Bush said: "He's doing this to inflame and to incite and to draw attention which seems to be the organizing principle of his campaign."
Chris Christie said on CBS This Morning: "I've said that the comments he made are inappropriate and have no place in the race. Even though I like him. He's been a friend for 13 years. But sometimes even good friends of yours say things you don't agree with."
One Republican candidate, Ted Cruz, the son of Cuban immigrants came to Trump's defense, saying on Meet the Press: "I salute Donald Trump for focusing on the need to address illegal immigration."
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Meantime, Donald Trump has other thoughts on the current Miss Universe, Paulina Vega.
Paulina Vega is calling Trump's controversial comments about illegal Mexican immigrants "hurtful and unfair.”
・・・ PAULINA VEGA MISS UNIVERSO 2014 Encuentro los comentarios del Sr. Trump injustos e hirientes.… http://t.co/IFRjLebHN8
— Paulina Vega (@MissUniverse) July 2, 2015
Now, Trump is blasting back on Twitter calling Vega a "hypocrite" for saying she'll keep her crown and finish out her reign.
Miss Universe, Paulina Vega, criticized me for telling the truth about illegal immigration, but then said she would keep the crown-Hypocrite
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 5, 2015
All this comes as the Miss USA pageant finds a home on the cable TV network, Reelz, which has purchased broadcast rights to air the pageant this Sunday following NBC’s refusal to air the show.
Read: Donald Trump's Miss USA Pageant Has Found a New Home
INSIDE EDITION’s Les Trent spoke with Reelz CEO Stanley Hubbard who said: “We're going to give all those contestants their day in the sun. We're not doing this for Donald Trump. We're doing this for the pageant to have an iconic American tradition of television be on our network. And people are going to find out network because of this and that's why we're doing it.”
Trent asked: “How did this whole thing transpire?”
Hubbard said: “I'm not friends with Donald Trump, I don't know Donald Trump. All of our communications have been with the pageant official’s their selves.”
Watch Below: Donald Trump's Miss USA Pageant Will Air on Reelz Channel
