A federal judge in Tennessee is threatening to sanction Attorney General Pam Bondi, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and other federal officials over public comments made about Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national facing charges of human smuggling and conspiracy, as reported by Fox News.
U.S. District Judge Waverly Crenshaw, who is presiding over the case in the Middle District of Tennessee, issued the warning in a filing Monday, cautioning officials from the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) against making any statements that could prejudice the ongoing proceedings.
“DOJ and DHS employees who fail to comply with the requirement to refrain from making any statement that ‘will have a substantial likelihood of materially prejudicing’ this criminal prosecution may be subject to sanctions,” Crenshaw wrote in the order.
Abrego Garcia, who was deported to El Salvador earlier this year before being returned to the United States, is accused of operating an extensive human smuggling network.
According to prosecutors, he transported women, children, and MS-13-affiliated individuals across the country on more than 100 occasions.
Attorney General Bondi previously described Abrego as a full-time human smuggler, emphasizing that his work was not a side operation but a consistent criminal enterprise.
“He was a smuggler of humans and children and women … [and that] [h]e made over 100 trips,” Bondi stated in comments earlier this year.
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In his memorandum opinion, Judge Crenshaw said media coverage surrounding Abrego began in March 2025 when the U.S. deported him to El Salvador, months before his federal indictment.
He added that the case’s high-profile nature has led both supporters of Abrego and government officials to make repeated statements to the media.
“Government employees have made extrajudicial statements that are troubling, especially where many of them are exaggerated if not simply inaccurate,” Crenshaw wrote.
He added that some of those remarks addressed Abrego’s “character or reputation” and expressed official opinions about his “guilt or innocence.”
The judge specifically cited Secretary Noem, who publicly referred to Abrego as a “MS-13 gang member, human trafficker, serial domestic abuser, and child predator.”
Crenshaw said such comments could violate the court’s local rules that limit remarks by government officials concerning active criminal proceedings.
Although Judge Crenshaw did not impose a gag order, he warned that any further violations could result in sanctions against those involved. He emphasized the need to ensure Abrego’s right to a fair trial and an impartial jury.
The DOJ and DHS have not yet commented on the judge’s warning. Fox News Digital reported that both agencies have been contacted for further response.
Abrego Garcia remains in federal custody as his case proceeds through the Tennessee district court.
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