A federal judge in Tennessee warns Trump officials over statements about Kilmar Abrego Garcia
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A federal judge in Tennessee on Monday warned of possible sanctions against senior Trump administration officials if they continue to make incendiary statements about Trump. Kilmar Abrego Garcia this could hurt him upcoming hearing.
U.S. District Judge Waverly Crenshaw filed an order late Monday directing local prosecutors in Nashville to forward a copy of her opinion to all Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security employees, including Attorney General Pam Bondi and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.
“Government officials have made troubling extrajudicial statements, especially when many of them were exaggerated, if not false,” Crenshaw writes.
It lists several examples of prohibited speech specified in the local rules of the U.S. District Court for Middle Tennessee. These include any statements regarding “the character, trustworthiness, reputation or criminal record of a party” and “any opinion regarding the guilt or innocence of the defendant.”
“DOJ and DHS employees who fail to comply with the requirement to refrain from making any statements that are ‘likely to materially prejudice this criminal prosecution’ may be subject to sanctions,” its decision states.
Earlier this year, Abrego Garcia mistaken deportation went to El Salvador where he was held Prison known for its brutality Despite having no criminal record, he helped galvanize opposition to President Donald Trump’s decision immigration pressure. Trump administration facing increasing public pressure and court decision brought him back to the USA. in June, but only after an arrest warrant was issued on human trafficking charges in Tennessee. Abrego Garcia pleaded not guilty to these charges and asked Crenshaw to dismiss them.
Meanwhile, Trump administration officials have waged a relentless public relations campaign against Abrego Garcia, repeatedly referring to him as: A member of the MS-13 gang and even implicating him in a murder. Crenshaw’s opinion states that statements by several senior officials, including Bondi and Noem, have the potential to harm Abrego Garcia’s right to a fair trial. He also warned Abrego Garcia’s defense attorneys against publicly disclosing details of plea agreement negotiations.
Abrego Garcia has an American wife and child. lived in Maryland He lived for many years, but immigrated to the United States illegally from El Salvador in his youth. In 2019, an immigration judge granted him protection from repatriation, finding that he had a justified fear of violence from a gang targeting his family.
Since his return to the United States in June, Immigration and Customs Enforcement has announced plans to deport him. African countries series, most recently Liberia.
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