Judge warns DOJ over public comments in Abrego Garcia case

A federal judge on Thursday instructed Justice Department lawyers to avoid making public remarks that could prejudice the jury in the criminal case against Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national indicted last month on human smuggling charges.

U.S. District Judge Waverly Crenshaw issued the warning in a brief notice, reminding attorneys that they are expected to follow court rules limiting what can be publicly disclosed about criminal proceedings. “All counsel are expected to comply with the Local Rules of this Court,” Crenshaw wrote in a notice on the docket, referencing guidelines that prohibit statements that could influence public opinion or affect the fairness of the trial.