STARTING NOW
A federal judge convenes a quick hearing after feds announce plans to send Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Liberia by Oct. 31.
If they fail, Todd Blanche could be on the hot seat in Abrego's case next week.
Background allrisenews.com/p/gregory-bovi…
A federal judge convenes a quick hearing after feds announce plans to send Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Liberia by Oct. 31.
If they fail, Todd Blanche could be on the hot seat in Abrego's case next week.
Background allrisenews.com/p/gregory-bovi…
Judge Xinis presiding
For Abrego: Simon Sandoval Moshenberg, Andrew Rossman and others
For DOJ: Drew Ensign and Jonathan Guynn
For Abrego: Simon Sandoval Moshenberg, Andrew Rossman and others
For DOJ: Drew Ensign and Jonathan Guynn
DOJ scheduled Kilmar Abrego Garcia's credible fear interview hearing PRECISELY concurrent with today's hearing.
Judge Xinis: "That's not fair play and it's not going to happen in my court."
Judge Xinis: "That's not fair play and it's not going to happen in my court."
Guynn confirmed that the credible fear interview will no longer take place during the hearing.
Judge Xinis: "Things are moving apace" regarding the government's designation of Abrego's country of removal to Liberia.
Abrego's lawyer:
"Your honor, we're certainly not satisfied as to whether he would be at liberty in Liberia rather than detained in Liberia."
Then, there's the concern about potentially refouling him El Salvador.
"Your honor, we're certainly not satisfied as to whether he would be at liberty in Liberia rather than detained in Liberia."
Then, there's the concern about potentially refouling him El Salvador.
Judge Xinis:
"The credible fear process is taking place and the interview has not happened and will happen shortly."
The government agrees that's correct.
"The credible fear process is taking place and the interview has not happened and will happen shortly."
The government agrees that's correct.
Judge Xinis notes that, if feds remove Abrego by Friday, as planned, that would "cut the legs out of the criminal case."
Xinis: "It sounds as if you landed on Liberia. Is that the respondent's third country of choice at the moment, or is there appetite for Costa Rica?"
[...]
DOJ: ... the decision was made to proceed with Liberia.
[...]
DOJ: ... the decision was made to proceed with Liberia.
Judge Xinis asks what the reasoning was for that other than Liberia is "almost in the ocean, it's so far away."
She notes that Costa Rica would have been an easy answer without legal challenge from Abrego.
She notes that Costa Rica would have been an easy answer without legal challenge from Abrego.
Judge Xinis: "Would you in fact remove [Abrego] if there was a negative fear determination by Friday?"
DOJ lawyer effectively responds "yes," and he says he doesn't know what that would mean for the criminal case.
DOJ lawyer effectively responds "yes," and he says he doesn't know what that would mean for the criminal case.
Judge Xinis says it "doesn't pass the sniff test" that there hasn't been coordination.
The hearing ends abruptly. Both parties will submit a status report on Tuesday.
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