On Friday, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., called the U.S. government's charges against Kilmar Abrego Garcia politically motivated and unsupported by evidence, The Hill reported.
The Salvadoran national was returned to the U.S. Friday after having been mistakenly deported by the Trump administration.
"These charges have to be regarded with a very hefty dose of skepticism, in light of the timing and all of the attendant circumstances," Blumenthal said during a Friday night interview on CNN's "The Source."
"The administration has no right to bring charges simply as an offramp or a face-saver. And now it's going to have to, in effect, put up and shut up, put its evidence where its mouth is.
"And I've heard again and again and again, as a prosecutor, as a United States attorney, federal prosecutor, as well as state attorney general, charges are not evidence," he told CNN's Kaitlan Collins. "And so far, we've seen no evidence."
In a federal indictment, the prosecution is generally not required to disclose all evidence to the defendant; it need only state probable cause
Abrego Garcia was indicted on two counts, one for conspiracy and another for unlawful transportation of undocumented aliens. Federal prosecutors allege he made more than 100 trips from Texas to other states over the years, transporting undocumented migrants in exchange for payment.
The case stems from a 2022 traffic stop by the Tennessee Highway Patrol. The vehicle, reportedly lacking luggage despite carrying several passengers, drew suspicion. Abrego Garcia told authorities he was transporting construction workers to Missouri, though the indictment claims the passengers were undocumented migrants.
"For the last 2 months, the media and Democrats have burnt to the ground any last shred of credibility they had left as they glorified Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a known MS13 gang member, human trafficker, and serial domestic abuser," Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement to The Hill on Saturday.
"Now, the United States of America confronts Kilmar Abrego Garcia with overwhelming evidence — he is being indicted by a grand jury for human smuggling, including children, and conspiracy. Justice awaits this Salvadoran man," Noem added.
The government "didn't actually indict him until a couple of weeks ago," Blumenthal said. "It only unsealed the indictment last Friday. But it's based on a supposed stop that happened three years ago. So they have been building a case."
Attorney General Pam Bondi said Friday that Abrego Garcia would be deported to El Salvador after serving his sentence if convicted.
Jim Thomas ✉
Jim Thomas is a writer based in Indiana. He holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science, a law degree from U.I.C. Law School, and has practiced law for more than 20 years.