Overview
- U.S. District Judge Waverly Crenshaw criticized Attorney General Pam Bondi and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem for public statements he called exaggerated or inaccurate about a defendant in an active case.
- He declined to issue a gag order but found the officials’ remarks in conflict with a local rule limiting extrajudicial commentary.
- Prosecutors were ordered to remind every Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security employee of the restrictions on public comment.
- The court demanded internal government communications related to the decision to charge Kilmar Abrego Garcia and faulted prosecutors for sidestepping earlier directives.
- The officials’ comments included claims that Abrego Garcia was an MS-13 member and human trafficker who made over 100 smuggling trips, assertions the judge said were improper for an ongoing prosecution.