Judge Warns Trump Officials Over Statements in Abrego Garcia Case

Wed Oct 29 2025 09:54:35 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A federal judge has issued a warning to Trump administration officials against making prejudicial public comments regarding Kilmar Abrego Garcia's upcoming trial, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the integrity of the judicial process.

U.S. District Judge Waverly Crenshaw cautioned that top officials from the Trump administration could face sanctions if they continue making inflammatory remarks about Kilmar Abrego Garcia, whose trial is set to take place soon. The judge cited the potential for these statements to undermine the fairness of the legal proceedings and directed all relevant employees to refrain from discussing the case publicly. This admonition comes in the wake of Abrego Garcia's contentious deportation and accusations surrounding his criminal affiliations, which he denies.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — U.S. District Judge Waverly Crenshaw issued a stern warning to top Trump administration officials on Monday about their public remarks concerning Kilmar Abrego Garcia, whose trial is forthcoming. The judge emphasized that inflammatory statements could lead to sanctions against those officials, highlighting the risk of prejudice in the ongoing judicial process.

In an order filed by Judge Crenshaw, he directed local prosecutors in Nashville to ensure that all employees from the Justice Department and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)—including Attorney General Pam Bondi and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem—are informed of his opinion. The judge expressed concern over the potential impact of unauthorized statements on the integrity of the proceedings.

“Government employees have made extrajudicial statements that are troubling, especially where many of them are exaggerated if not simply inaccurate,” Crenshaw noted in his ruling, which elaborated on the specific types of statements that are prohibited, including any commentary on the character and credibility of Garcia, as well as opinions regarding his guilt or innocence.

The order clearly states that employees who fail to comply and make statements that could materially prejudice the prosecution may face sanctions, underscoring the importance of upholding judicial standards.

This legal battle has roots in Abrego Garcia's controversial deportation earlier this year to El Salvador, where he was held in a notoriously brutal prison despite having no criminal record. This incident galvanized public opposition to the immigration policies of the Trump administration. Eventually, after significant public pressure, the administration reversed course, allowing Garcia to return to the U.S. in June. However, this was accompanied by new charges of human smuggling lodged against him, which he has pleaded not guilty.

Throughout this period, administration officials have publicly branded Garcia as a member of the MS-13 gang, further complicating his legal situation. Judge Crenshaw referenced statements from top officials, including Bondi and Noem, as potentially damaging to Garcia's right to a fair trial. He also criticized Abrego Garcia's defense attorneys for publicly sharing sensitive details regarding plea negotiations.

Garcia has resided in Maryland for years and has an American wife and child. He entered the U.S. illegally from El Salvador as a teenager but was granted protection from deportation by an immigration judge in 2019 due to credible fears of violence associated with gang threats against his family in his home country.

Following his return to the U.S., ICE announced plans to deport him to various African nations, the latest being Liberia, despite the complexities surrounding his case.