Justice Department pushes to revive criminal case against Kilmar Abrego Garcia

Nashville, Tenn. (AP) — The Justice Department is attempting to revive criminal charges against Kilmar Abrego Garcia, contending a federal appeals court that a judge erred in his harsh ruling calling the case of his wrongful deportation to an El Salvador prison an "abuse of prosecuting power." The government is appealing a May ruling by U.S. District Judge Waverly Crenshaw, who struck down human smuggling charges against the Salvadoran national.

Crenshaw's decision was a severe rebuke of the Trump administration, which has faced accusations of targeting defendants for political reasons. While Crenshaw didn't outright accuse the government of "actual vindictiveness," he found enough evidence to suggest "presumptive vindictiveness," including the timing of the indictment and statements from then-U.S.

Attorney General Todd Blanche. Blanche's comments, the Justice Department argues, demonstrated a legitimate motive for prosecuting Abrego Garcia, rather than an improper penalty.