Topline
Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., criticized Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-Calif., in a series of news network appearances Sunday, taking issue with the governor’s recent comments characterizing the case of mistakenly deported Maryland man Kilmar Abrego Garcia as a “distraction” set by the Trump administration.
Van Hollen made the remarks in an interview published Sunday. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
Key Facts
Newsom told reporters last week Abrego Garcia’s case was the “distraction of the day,” suggesting the Trump administration has pushed for Americans to focus on it “because they don’t want this debate on tariffs,” adding the GOP doesn’t want “to be accountable to markets today.”
When asked about the comment by NBC News, Van Hollen said “I don’t think it’s ever wrong to stand up for the constitution,” arguing Abrego Garcia’s case, which has involved the Trump administration largely ignoring a Supreme Court order to facilitate the man’s return to the U.S., has set a dangerous precedent for the constitutional rights of all Americans.
“I think Americans are tired of elected officials or politicians who are all finger to the wind,” Van Hollen said, seemingly referring to Newsom, before adding “anyone who can’t stand up for the Constitution and the right of due process doesn’t deserve to lead.”
Newsom, who has recently provoked the ire of Democratic lawmakers for hosting prominent right-wing figures on his podcast, followed up on his remarks one day after speaking to the reporters, telling supporters in a post to not be distracted and that the “Trump Administration’s refusal to obey court rulings needs to be called out.”
Newsom’s post featured a clip from an interview he had with political commentator Brian Tyler Cohen in which he said the Trump administration’s resistance against the Abrego Garcia court orders “needs to be called out and we need to be consistent about it.”
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Key Background
Newsom’s “distraction” comment about the Abrego Garcia case came as the governor sued the Trump administration over its sweeping tariff policy, arguing against the president’s use of emergency powers to enact the duties and highlighting their impact on California, which has the fifth-largest economy in the world. “This is the debate they want. This is their 80-20 issue, as they’ve described it,” referring to the Trump administration’s campaign against Abrego Garcia’s return to the U.S. Abrego Garcia was deported to El Salvador last month without trial despite having withholding of removal, a deportation protection that allows someone to live and work in the U.S. temporarily. The White House has admitted his deportation was due to a “clerical error.” Van Hollen has advocated for Abrego Garcia’s return, recently meeting with the man and defending him from the Trump administration’s allegations that he is a member of the MS-13 gang. The senator has repeatedly cited a ruling from District Court Judge Paula Xinis, who said on April 6 the government has “offered no evidence linking Abrego Garcia to MS-13 or to any terrorist activity.” Xinis, who, alongside the Supreme Court, ordered the Trump administration to facilitate Abrego Garcia’s return, has encouraged the government to present the MS-13 allegation in court.
Tangent
Van Hollen said in multiple media appearances Sunday he was not defending Abrego Garcia as a person, but rather his right to due process. “I want to be very clear—I’m not vouching for the man. I’m vouching for the man’s rights. His constitutional rights to due process,” he told “Fox News Sunday.”
Further Reading
Sen. Van Hollen Says Trump Administration Made $15 Million Deal With El Salvador To Imprison Deportees Including Abrego Garcia (Forbes)
Sen. Van Hollen Meets Kilmar Abrego Garcia In El Salvador (Forbes)
Trump Administration Says It Will Simply Re-Deport Kilmar Abrego Garcia If He Is Brought Back To U.S. (Forbes)