Kirsten Powers offers that Trump used 'tragic accident' that killed Kate Steinle to stir up bigotry

As Twitchy reported, a jury in San Francisco Thursday acquitted illegal immigrant Jose Ines Garcia Zarate of murder and manslaughter charges in the 2015 shooting death of Kate Steinle. Zarate was found guilty only of being in possession of a firearm.

Judging by the shockwaves the verdict has sent across the nation, it was far from expected. Shouldn’t Zarate, who was in possession of a stolen gun, have been found guilty of manslaughter?

President Donald Trump certainly wasn’t quiet about the case, but USA Today columnist and CNN political analyst Kirsten Powers alleged Thursday night that Trump had portrayed Steinle’s killing as a murder “to stir up bigotry against Mexicans.”

https://twitter.com/KirstenPowers/status/936396915440316416

Or to illustrate that if we had an immigration system that actually worked, the killer wouldn’t have been here in the first place and Kate Steinle would still be alive. https://t.co/1KrOvPOwe0

— Hammerjack (@MarcGiller) December 1, 2017

https://twitter.com/Based_Panther/status/936402580145614848

So now that we know — legally speaking — that Steinle’s killing was “a tragic accident,” are we supposed to forget that Zarate shouldn’t have been in the country, let alone in possession of a firearm? A lot of people are furious about the verdict, and it doesn’t seem to be bigotry against Mexicans that’s fueling their anger.

The guy's been deported 5 times. Came back in illegally 5 times. When it comes to stirring up bigotry against Mexicans, he's just as guilty as anyone. https://t.co/YEySyPflI0

— Chris Markiewicz (@RockThatPianoCM) December 1, 2017

No, @KirstenPowers – this was about a very complex multi-dimensional issue, not a simple tragic accident. It involves vagrancy. Repeated illegal immigration. A city willing to cover up to protect a narrative. What if she were your daughter? https://t.co/LTHvrX8VZ6

— Robin Green (@rdgreen) December 1, 2017

You seem like a good woman with a kind heart, but you're so damn wrong here in your characterization of this that it's not even funny. Take off your partisan lenses, forget Trump for a damn minute, & realize he was not even convicted of manslaughter in spite of fitting the crime.

— Harold Stickeehans (@StickeeNotes) December 1, 2017

https://twitter.com/MrBeagleman/status/936402169477193728

Man with no legal right to be in this country recklessly fires his stolen gun, kills a citizen.
Yeah, Trump sure had to stir the pot on this one. https://t.co/WoFisbLMch

— Bryan Suits (Not California Compliant) (@darksecretplace) December 1, 2017

Anyone who fires a gun in public should be held responsible for anyone injured. You don't "accidentally" pick up a gun and shoot it. That's ridiculous. You ought to be ashamed of yourself. https://t.co/bFEEOcaTpp

— Jeremiah Poff (@JJ_Poff) December 1, 2017

The man wasn’t supposed to be here. That’s all there is to say. And all of those who back sanctuary cities are responsible for this. https://t.co/Z4x9QOYFB5

— Mark Noonan (@Mark_E_Noonan) December 1, 2017

FACT: If Jose Ines Garcia Zarate wasn't illegally in the US, he wouldn't have "accidentally" found & fired the gun that killed Kate Steinle in San Francisco. https://t.co/Z6812JK2Pt

— Conservative Eagle (@ConservEagleUSA) December 1, 2017

I suppose he tripped over our Southern border 5 times by "accident" too… https://t.co/KhYqjCm3QU

— Mach's Alternate (@Machovellian) December 1, 2017

The verdict is appalling. And you are using this gross miscarriage of justice to shill your politics. If the murderer was a 5 (waiting on 6) time illegal Swede waiting to be deported, the sentiment would be the same. You are the bigot. https://t.co/kN9WWjJoFd

— Morticia (@ms_morticia) December 1, 2017

Pick up a gun and you own whatever happens with it. He lives, she dies. This is an appalling verdict made worse because he was a career criminal coddled by progressive idiots in this city at the expense of the actual citizenry. Disappointed that you take such delight in this. https://t.co/Khgrt4U3we

— Mary Fernandez ??#FreeHK (@MaryFernandez) December 1, 2017

He was an ILLEGAL! he was deported 5 times & had 7 felony convictions. He took the life of a young woman because of a sanctuary city & its political agenda. Your tweet is ignorant & disgusting. Tragic accident my ass.https://t.co/hy8C26Yitn

— Chris ?? (@wr2020ny) December 1, 2017

Listen Kirsten, I'm Brown, Hispanic & I was born in San Francisco & that verdict is just shit. To bring up Trump after the verdict and not to mention the horrific death & loss of Kate Steinle shows your blinded by hate of Trump. https://t.co/lPF32zJD0M

— A New Year (@Magacheers) December 1, 2017

There is no bigotry in wanting to keep your loved ones alive. The fact is, if the border were secure Kate would be ALIVE today. https://t.co/eykGbqEMaT

— J Mazak (@Jmajkrzak) December 1, 2017

1- Here illegally
2- Several times deported
2- Had the firearm illegally
3- Discharged the weapon in public negligently
4- KILLED A YOUNG WOMAN
5- Should have been manslaughter AT LEAST. you dimwitted psychopath. https://t.co/E1WQBDLssy

— Nick (@_nickthebrick1) December 1, 2017

Intentional murder, maybe not, but don't confuse this with a tragic accident either, Kirsten. This scenario is played over and over again in CA. Some of the facts differ, the end result does not. https://t.co/W5Caj3Xejb

— BayAreaFrau (@bayareahausfrau) December 1, 2017