Overview
- Newly unsealed excerpts from a Dec. 3 ruling cite ODAG emails calling the case a “top priority” weeks after Abrego Garcia’s wrongful deportation, with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche’s office wanting charges “sooner rather than later.”
- Judge Waverly Crenshaw said the documents suggest Acting U.S. Attorney Rob McGuire was not the sole decision-maker and directed prosecutors to turn over additional internal files to the defense.
- Crenshaw previously found “some evidence” of possible vindictiveness and set a Jan. 28 evidentiary hearing for the government to rebut that finding, after canceling the trial date.
- Abrego Garcia was deported to El Salvador in March despite a 2019 order barring his removal, then returned after court rulings; he has pleaded not guilty and remains on pretrial release in Maryland.
- The Justice Department denies improper motive and has asserted privileges over some materials, and immigration officials told a court they will not re-detain him while a detention order remains in effect.