Vice President Mike Pence was joined by the family of Kayla Mueller, the humanitarian aid worker who was killed by Islamic State militants, at the first vice presidential debate.
“Notably, America’s hearts today are with the family of Kayla Mueller, her parents of which are here with us tonight in Salt Lake City,” Pence said
He added, “Today, two of the ISIS killers responsible for Kayla Mueller’s murder were brought to justice in the United States.”
Pence claimed more could have been done under Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden to save Mueller.
“When Joe Biden was vice president, we had an opportunity to save Kayla Mueller,” Pence said.
Watch his comments below:
Kamala Harris says Trump has "betrayed our friends and embraced dictators around the world"
— BBC North America (@BBCNorthAmerica) October 8, 2020
Mike Pence says "we've stood strong with our allies" but we've been demanding – and says Trump unleashed the US military on IShttps://t.co/VZTi41JXWn #VPDebate pic.twitter.com/bw66HWTJTT
He continued, “Breaks my heart to reflect on it, but the military came into the Oval Office, presented a plan. They said they knew where Kayla was. Baghdadi had held her for 18 months, abused her mercilessly before they killed her.”
Pence argued when Biden was vice president they “hesitated.”
“Her family says with a heart that broke the heart of every American that if President Trump had been president, they believe Kayla would be alive today,” Pence said.
Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris offered her condolences to the Mueller family.
Watch her comments below:
NEW: Sen. @KamalaHarris addresses the family of Kayla Mueller, a humanitarian worker killed by ISIS, whose family is attending the #VPDebate as guests of @VP Mike Pence
— Yahoo News (@YahooNews) October 8, 2020
"I am so sorry, what happened to her is awful. And it should have never happened." pic.twitter.com/wyrJXXyGEX
“First of all, to the Mueller family, I know about your daughter’s case and I am so sorry. I am so sorry, what happened to her is awful. And it should have never happened,” Harris said.
She went on, “And I know Joe feels the same way and I know that President Obama feels the same way.”