Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) said Sunday about “This Week” of ABC that his recently trip from El Salvador was not trying to defend Kilmar Abrego García but to defend due process.
Partial transcription as follows:
Jonathan Karl: As you know, the president himself has been attacking beam by attacking him by pointing out some of the aspects of the Abrego García registration, including the fact that wife had a protection order against him in 2021, and claimed that the serious serious one would stop her. Are you worried about your defense of someone? Obviously, all in this country, even those undocumented immigrants have rights. But do you worry about being so strongly with someone who has at least a questionable record?
Van Hollen: I’m not defending man. I am defending the rights of this man to due process, and the Trump administration has admitted in the courts that was wrong, arrested for life and deported. My mission and my purpose is to make sure to defend the rule of law because we remove it, from it, we make it in danger for all others.
And I want to point out, Karl, yes, the Trump administration is trying to change the story. They are trying to distract attention. This is where their deeds should go: they should put it before the court. They should postpone or shut up in the Court, because Judge Xinis, who is the judge of the District Court in this case, said and quoted, there is no evidence to link Abrego García with MS-13 or with another terrorist activity, without appointment. She says a couple of times in her decision. Then, Mr. President and Republicans and any person involved with this, takes his facts to the courts. Do not put everything on social networks. As for his wife, his wife is the one who asks us to bring him home, so that his rights can be respected.
Karl: And, in fact, even if he is a member of the gang, that does not mean that he has no rights, due process.
Van Hollen: Well, exactly, but again, the place to litigate that is in court and they have not put the evidence before the judge in the case. Then, again, place or quiet in court.
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