Obama Judge Orders Trump Admin To Stop Calling Abrego Garcia A Wife-Beating Gangbanger

A federal judge declared Trump administration officials must stop referring to Kilmar Abrego Garcia as a criminal, finding that these accusations could threaten his right to a fair trial.

U.S. District Judge Waverly Crenshaw — appointed to the bench in Tennessee by the Obama administration — ordered federal prosecutors on Monday to warn Department of Justice (DOJ) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) employees against making any “prejudicial” statements about Abrego Garcia, according to court documents. The Salvadoran national, who is fighting human smuggling charges in the state, was previously identified as an MS-13 gang member by local law enforcement and accused of domestic abuse by his wife.

“Government employees have made extrajudicial statements that are troubling, especially where many of them are exaggerated if not simply inaccurate,” Crenshaw stated in separate court documents. “These statements made allegations regarding Abrego’s ‘character or reputation’ and expressed government officials’ views on Abrego’s ‘guilt or innocence.’”

Crenshaw noted as examples DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s characterization of Abrego Garcia as an “MS-13 gang member, human trafficker, Serial domestic abuser, and child predator” as well as Attorney General Pam Bondi’s declaration he played “a significant role in an alien smuggling ring,” according to court documents.

“To assist DOJ and DHS employees going forward Government’s counsel of record shall provide them a copy of this Memorandum Opinion and Order to understand their obligations,” Crenshaw wrote. “Their compliance will ensure that any future statements will not ‘pose a substantial likelihood of materially prejudicing this proceeding.’”

Abrego Garcia became one of the biggest names in President Donald Trump’s Immigration