Karoline Leavitt rips Van Hollen, media for their portrayal of suspected human trafficker Kilmar Abrego Garcia
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt called out Democrats and the media for defending illegal immigrant and suspected MS-13 member Kilmar Abrego Garcia Friday.
Abrego Garcia, who was deported in March to an El Salvador mega prison, was returned to the U.S. Friday to answer federal charges for human smuggling and conspiracy.
"The Justice Department's Grand Jury Indictment against Abrego Garcia proves the unhinged Democrat Party was wrong, and their stenographers in the Fake News Media were once again played like fools," Leavitt said in a statement to Fox News.
"Abrego Garcia was never an innocent 'Maryland Man'– Abrego Garcia is an illegal alien terrorist, gang member, and human trafficker who has spent his entire life abusing innocent people, especially women and the most vulnerable," Leavitt added.
She also called out Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., who traveled to El Salvador in April "to show solidarity" with Abrego Garcia.
"Abrego Garcia will now return to the United States to answer for his crimes and meet the full force of American justice," Leavitt said. "The Democrat lawmakers, namely Democrat Senator Chris Van Hollen, and every single so-called 'journalist' who defended this illegal criminal abuser must immediately apologize to Garcia's victims. The Trump Administration will continue to hold criminals accountable to the fullest extent of the law."
Abrego Garcia previously lived in Maryland before the administration deported him to the Central American country's mega prison.
According to Abrego Garcia's indictment, he played a "significant role" in a human smuggling ring operating for nearly a decade, and Bondi described him as a full-time smuggler who made more than 100 trips, transporting women, children and MS-13 gang-affiliated persons throughout the United States.
Fox News Digital obtained Tennessee Highway Patrol bodycam footage from a 2022 traffic stop where troopers pulled over Abrego Garcia for speeding. Inside his vehicle were eight other men, raising immediate suspicions. "He's hauling these people for money," one trooper said.
Law enforcement found $1,400 in cash and flagged Abrego Garcia in the National Crime Information Center, which returned a gang/terrorism alert. ICE was called, but never responded.
Despite Abrego Garcia's alleged illegal activity, various media outlets continued to refer to him as a "Maryland man" Friday, including the Washington Post and the New York Times. Fox News contributor Guy Benson shared a screenshot of their Breaking News alerts using the phrase.
Axios and USA TODAY referred to him as a "Maryland man" or "Maryland father" on social media.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
28 minutes ago
- CBS News
Toddler injured in Strawberry Mansion hit-and-run released from hospital as police search for drivers
Philadelphia police search for hit-and-run drivers as 2-year-old victim is released from hospital Philadelphia police search for hit-and-run drivers as 2-year-old victim is released from hospital Philadelphia police search for hit-and-run drivers as 2-year-old victim is released from hospital A 2-year-old boy injured in a hit-and-run in Strawberry Mansion Thursday night was released from the hospital as police actively search for the drivers who nearly took his life. The family of 2-year-old Kayden Bryant said he injured his head in the incident, and doctors needed to use staples to treat the wound. He is also dealing with some bumps, bruises and scrapes on his face and arms. "His face. Just looking at it, I cry every time," said his mother, Dachanell Ross Bryant. Bryant, holding him during her interview with CBS News Philadelphia, was not taking the moment with her son for granted. She said being able to hold him is truly a miracle. "I'm happy that he's alive," she said. Kayden was injured Thursday night when two vehicles – an SUV and a pickup truck – hit him around 9 p.m. at 33rd Street and Susquehanna Avenue. Bryant said it happened when she was putting her kids in the car after having a picnic with friends at nearby Fairmount Park, but Kayden got away. "We heard a big boom, and it was my baby in the middle of the street," she said. "I cried a lot that night, until I seen him and got to hold him and seen that he was going to be OK," said Donna Ross, Kayden's grandmother. The family said both drivers never even stopped. Philadelphia police are now looking for the drivers involved. Police also released a picture of the SUV believed to be connected to the incident. Philadelphia police release a photo of the SUV believed to be involved in the hit-and-run. The car was last seen in the area of 32nd and Diamond streets, police said. CBS Philadelphia Bryant said she still can't understand why the drivers didn't care to check on her little boy. "I just don't understand that you just hit my child and didn't decide to get out the car and try to help him. You just kept going," she said. "Like, all I'm really asking for you is to turn yourself in." Still, Bryant remains thankful the situation didn't turn out worse, and her little boy is just fine.
CBS News
34 minutes ago
- CBS News
Hadiya Pendleton's parents hold annual "Party 4 Peace" honoring slain honor student
More than 12 years after 15-year-old honor student Hadiya Pendleton was shot and killed in Chicago, her parents remain as passionate as ever about preventing gun violence, holding an annual event to honor the life of their daughter and other families who have lost loved ones to shootings. Hadiya was shot and killed just days after she marched in former President Obama's second inauguration parade. Her death sparked a national conversation about gun violence in Chicago that resonated all the way to the White House. For the past 12 years, her parents have held an annual "Party 4 Peace" on the South Side. Saturday afternoon, Nate Pendleton and Cleopatra Cowley found peace in the park now named after their daughter. "It means something. It's highly impactful," Cleopatra said. "She was a majorette at King High School. She was a very bright person. Sometimes you could forget that you're talking to a child," Nate said. Nate and Cleopatra lost their daughter in January 2013. Hadiya was shot and killed in Harsh Park about a half mile away from her school. It's a different park than the one now bearing her name. "Hadiya was 15 when she died. She got shot in the park. Since then, we've just been trying to make something better happen," Nate said. A year after Hadiya's murder, her parents started the nonprofit Hadiya's Promise – committing to prevent gun violence and to support families like their own. "It is very important to us that people feel like there's a place that they're safe," Cleopatra said said. The first Saturday of every June, Hadiya Pendleton Park in the Grand Boulevard neighborhood is peaceful – and bright orange – at the annual Party 4 Peace. Orange was Hadiya's favorite color, and since 2015 the "Wear Orange" movement has honored her life and all those affected by gun violence. "My goal is to share with others what I've experienced. Like, hey, let's have a conversation about it, because it's very often where we feel like we're by ourselves," Cleopatra said. Cleopatra and Nate are not alone, but surrounded by their daughter's friends and their growing family. "The family keeps expanding," Cleopatra said. In the park named after their daughter, Hadiya's parents are at peace and feel her presence. "She's here. She's here right now," Nate said. "That's what brought all these people out. So her essence is here." The man previously convicted of Hadiya is awaiting a new trial. Micheail Ward's new trial date has not been set, but he's due back in court on Wednesday.
New York Times
34 minutes ago
- New York Times
Gina Ortiz Jones, a Progressive, Is Elected San Antonio's Mayor
Gina Ortiz Jones, a Filipino American who served as under secretary of the Air Force during the Biden administration, won a runoff election on Saturday to become the mayor of San Antonio, making her the first openly gay leader of the seventh-largest city in the country. Ms. Jones, 44, defeated Rolando Pablos, 57, a Mexican immigrant and former Texas secretary of state known for his close ties to Gov. Greg Abbott, a conservative Republican. 'San Antonio showed up and showed out,' Ms. Jones told a group of supporters Saturday night, and then referring to voters she added. 'We reminded them that our city is about compassion and it's about leading with everybody in mind.' 'So I look forward to being a mayor for all.' The election was a test of Latino sentiment after the dramatic shift of Hispanic voters toward Donald J. Trump in 2024. Kamala Harris handily won San Antonio, a Latino-majority city and Democratic stronghold, but Mr. Trump made significant gains in the city on his way to a 14-percentage-point victory in Texas. On Saturday night, Mr. Pablos conceded. 'We tried. It was a very tough race.' Though technically nonpartisan, Mr. Pablos did not downplay his ties to Republican leaders in Texas, nor did Ms. Jones shy from her longstanding Democratic connections. Heading into Saturday, she was seen as the front-runner, having earned the largest portion of the voting bloc in a crowded, 27-candidate election in May. Then, she won 27 percent of the vote to Mr. Pablos's 17 percent. She was also closely aligned with the politics of the outgoing mayor, Ron Nirenberg, who was first elected in 2017 and is term limited after four consecutive wins. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
