Laken Riley's murder changed Georgia forever.
Now Jon Ossoff is catching heat from Republicans who remember exactly what he said – and didn't say – when it mattered.
The Georgia Democrat demanded his Republican opponents call for an investigation into Alex Pretti's Minnesota shooting, and Republicans just exposed something damning about Ossoff's priorities.
Georgia Senate Race 2026: Mike Collins Fires Back With Riley Comparison
Rep. Mike Collins – one of the Republicans Ossoff challenged on social media – didn't hold back.
Collins fired back asking when Ossoff would say one word about the illegal aliens arrested just this month for raping, kidnapping, and molesting Georgians.
Fox News radio host Guy Benson pointed to an incident two weeks ago where an illegal immigrant in Georgia broke into a home and raped an 11-year-old girl in her bedroom.
Rep. Buddy Carter asked where the senator's outrage was when Laken Riley was murdered.
Carter added his own question: Why is Ossoff more concerned with defending Minnesota's criminals than the people of Georgia?
Senator Jon Ossoff's Social Media Silence On Laken Riley
A Fox News analysis found something stunning.
Ossoff has never once mentioned Laken Riley's name on X.
Ted Cruz threw shade with a nervous emoji above a post noting Ossoff has never even tweeted about Laken Riley.
Ossoff did hold an event honoring Riley shortly after her murder and gave a speech in the Georgia legislature requesting a moment of silence.
But his social media silence speaks volumes to Republicans who watched him immediately jump on the Alex Pretti story.
The contrast couldn't be clearer – a Georgia senator tweeting about Minneapolis while his own constituents suffer.
Laken Riley Act Anniversary Exposes Ossoff Flip-Flop
Thursday marks the one-year anniversary of Trump signing the Laken Riley Act.
The Act gave ICE the power to detain illegal aliens who commit crimes like shoplifting and DUI – exactly the kinds of crimes Riley's murderer committed before killing her.
Ossoff initially voted with all Senate Democrats against an amendment that would have passed a modified version in March 2024.
He eventually voted for the standalone Laken Riley Act in January 2025 – but only after Republicans made it politically impossible not to.
Tim Scott – chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee – accused Ossoff of flip-flopping on the Act.
Scott didn't mince words: "Jon Ossoff flip-flopping on the Laken Riley Act is just another example of him making election-season calculations that benefit his political career, not Georgians."
Republicans Turn ICE Controversy Into Campaign Ammunition
Ossoff represents Georgia – where Riley was murdered.
He's demanding investigation into a Minnesota shooting while his own constituents get victimized by illegal immigrants he initially voted to protect.
Collins summarized the Republican argument: "When the left rails against ICE and protests immigration enforcement, these are the criminals they're defending."
The contradiction couldn't be clearer.
Ossoff wants accountability for federal agents in Minnesota but opposed the very law that would have prevented Riley's murder in his own state.
Republicans are turning this into a referendum on whose safety Ossoff actually cares about – Georgians or political activists in Minneapolis.
Every time Ossoff tweets about Minnesota, Republicans will remind voters about the 11-year-old Georgia girl raped in her bedroom.
Every time he demands investigations into ICE, they'll ask why he never tweeted Laken Riley's name.
That's the kind of political ammunition that wins elections – and Ossoff just handed it to his opponents on a silver platter.
Sources:
- Alec Schemmel, "Vulnerable Dem's support for Alex Pretti collides with Laken Riley Act anniversary," Fox News, January 29, 2026.
- Department of Homeland Security, "President Trump Signs the Laken Riley Act into Law," January 29, 2025.
- Rep. Mike Collins, "President Trump Signs the Laken Riley Act into Law," House.gov, January 29, 2025.
