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Sen. Van Hollen Tries to Rewrite Script of His El Salvador Stunt: ‘I Am Not Defending the Man'
PJ Media ^ | 04/20/2025 | Matt Margolis

Posted on 04/20/2025 10:07:06 PM PDT by SeekAndFind

Last week, Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) scrambled to contain the fallout from his tone-deaf El Salvador stunt that quickly turned into a political fiasco. The Maryland Democrat, who initially grandstanded about his efforts to “rescue” a deported MS-13 gang member, is now in full damage control mode—desperately trying to rewrite the narrative of a trip that backfired spectacularly.

Van Hollen even hit the Sunday talk shows to contain the fallout. Curiously insisting to Jonathan Karl of ABC News’s “This Week” that he’s not defending Kilmar Abrego Garcia, but that he’s defending “the rule of law.”

Host Jonathan Karl pressed Van Hollen on “some pretty serious allegations of abuse” made by Abrego Garcia’s wife in court—allegations that President Trump has recently brought to national attention.

“Obviously, everybody in this country, even those undocumented immigrants, have rights. But are you concerned about standing so forcefully with somebody that has, you know, at least a questionable record?” Karl asked.

Van Hollen insisted his advocacy wasn’t about the man himself, but about legal principle. “I am not defending the man. I’m defending the rights of this man to due process,” he claimed. “And the Trump administration has admitted in court that he was wrongfully detained and wrongfully deported.”

Abrego Garcia’s case is anything but an example of a rushed or unjust deportation. In fact, the timeline of events makes clear that Garcia received extensive due process over the course of several years. His encounters with law enforcement began well before his deportation, including multiple arrests tied to suspected gang activity.

His immigration status was reviewed in formal proceedings before multiple judges.

(Excerpt) Read more at pjmedia.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; US: Maryland
KEYWORDS: abregogarcia; elsalvador; marylandman; ms13; thenwhydidhego; vanhollen
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1 posted on 04/20/2025 10:07:06 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

I didn’t think you could make this look dumber. Well, you did it. Zip it dude. The only way you could get dumber is get bigger.


2 posted on 04/20/2025 10:11:11 PM PDT by Equine1952
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To: SeekAndFind

Come on Chrissy, we saw those stars light up in your eyes when you were talking to an actual hispanic gangbanger. You were trying to do the math to see if you would be able to hire a pool boy on full time. Idiot.


3 posted on 04/20/2025 10:11:21 PM PDT by FlingWingFlyer (It's time to deport the Supreme Court under the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights.)
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To: SeekAndFind

Sounds like some of the DNC higher-ups got to him and told him that this issue is going away.


4 posted on 04/20/2025 10:12:29 PM PDT by Steely Tom ([Voter Fraud] == [Civil War])
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To: FlingWingFlyer

And he’s a liar!


5 posted on 04/20/2025 10:22:45 PM PDT by No name given ( Anonymous is who you’ll know me as)
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To: Equine1952

You want him to shut up? Why? I want him to run his mouth as much as possible so he can reveal more of the concealed of the Dems.


6 posted on 04/20/2025 10:50:15 PM PDT by Tom Tetroxide (Psalm 146:3 "Do not trust in princes, in the Son of Man, who has no salvation.")
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To: Tom Tetroxide

True. I’m throughly enjoying this idiots antics. Truely he has to get bigger to get dumber. The Democrats really need to send a short bus full of them to El Salvador on a Blue Rocket. You can’t make this crap up. Regards


7 posted on 04/20/2025 10:55:49 PM PDT by Equine1952
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To: SeekAndFind

A cunning stunt by a stunning (bunt).


8 posted on 04/20/2025 11:27:43 PM PDT by rfp1234 (E Porcibus Unum)
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To: SeekAndFind

“We need to bring him home” isn’t defending him? What an idiot.


9 posted on 04/20/2025 11:36:05 PM PDT by mass55th (“Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.” ― John Wayne)
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To: SeekAndFind

Van Hollen is a total imbecile, with a disregard for the law AND the welfare of this country. It is shameful that he was elected. It is a disgrace that he was elected. Where is a large falling rock when you need one?


10 posted on 04/20/2025 11:44:49 PM PDT by EinNYC
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To: SeekAndFind

IIRC, the original ruling said anywhere except El Salvador. Ok, fine. Hello, Rocket Man? Say, I was wondering if ...


11 posted on 04/20/2025 11:57:00 PM PDT by NonValueAdded (First, I was a clinger, then deplorable, now I'm garbage. Feel the love?)
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To: All

I keep wondering if Van Hollen’s constituents are OK with this .......
........or does he represent anti American slobs like himself?


12 posted on 04/20/2025 11:59:54 PM PDT by Liz (This then is how we should pray...."Our Father, who art in heaven......" )
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To: Steely Tom

Not unless we see that other clown who said she was going suddenly change her mind


13 posted on 04/21/2025 12:26:19 AM PDT by RummyChick
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To: SeekAndFind

BULLCRAP! The Democrats are all FOR CRIMINALS, FREAKS, SEXUAL DEVIANTS and DESTROYERS!


14 posted on 04/21/2025 2:04:31 AM PDT by Ann Archy (Abortion.....the HUMAN Sacrifice to the god of Convenience..)
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To: SeekAndFind

BULLCRAP! The Democrats are all FOR CRIMINALS, FREAKS, SEXUAL DEVIANTS and DESTROYERS!


15 posted on 04/21/2025 2:05:08 AM PDT by Ann Archy (Abortion.....the HUMAN Sacrifice to the god of Convenience..)
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shock polling very very badly.


16 posted on 04/21/2025 2:06:40 AM PDT by StAnDeliver (TrumpII)
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To: SeekAndFind

Hmmmm…. an MS-13, Antifa, DemocRAT alliance… what could possibly go wrong.


17 posted on 04/21/2025 2:09:52 AM PDT by House Atreides (I’m now ULTRA-MAGA-PRO-MAX)
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To: rfp1234

The Pope dying will hopefully push CVH off the news. They had beat that horse. It will have to shift to Catholic coverage. The media will sweep the Pope’s death away as quickly as as they can.


18 posted on 04/21/2025 3:20:00 AM PDT by cnsmom
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To: SeekAndFind

Seeing how he stepped in sh## he is backtracking, his plan didn’t work and he is now labeled. Great career move stupid, good for us


19 posted on 04/21/2025 3:22:30 AM PDT by ronnie raygun
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To: SeekAndFind; All

When republicans are interviewed on these kinds of things, they should just remark, “That guy is just another clueless, flaming asshole.”


20 posted on 04/21/2025 3:32:59 AM PDT by Cobra64 (Common sense isn’t common anymore.)
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