Listen to Karoline Leavitt
Listen to Karoline Leavitt as she trashes Kilmar Abrego-Garcia, who was deported to El Salvador last month. Abrego-Garcia's lawyers note a judge had ruled that since gangs were after him, he should not be sent back to El Salvador.
Kind of a protective order, that.
But who are we to believe -- Abrego-Garcia's lawyer or Donald Trump's press secretary?
Eyes aflame, Leavitt lists what she says are four facts:
Fact #1: Abrego-Garcia "was a member of the brutal and vicious MS-13 gang."
Fact #2: There was "credible evidence proving that this individual was involved in human trafficking."
Fact #3: "This individual was a member -- actually, a leader -- of the brutal MS-13 gang."
Fact #4: "Foreign terrorists do not have legal protection in the United States of America."
Never mind that the first and third facts are the same. Maybe that "fact" was so important it needed to be repeated, right? At any rate, after reading these "facts," most of you are probably wilting - withdrawing any good and kind feelings you might have had towards Abrego-Garcia. The MS-13 gang, you say? And did you say he was one of its leaders? Did you say he was involved in human trafficking? And a foreign terrorist, to boot? Ouch, we can't have this guy around. Lock him up and throw away the key.
Nobody wants such people to not see justice - not you, not me, not anyone.
But here's something else: Not a one of us should want an innocent person to be sent to one of the world's harshest prisons -- a place where prisoners die early deaths because of the conditions. If the press secretary paints Abrego-Garcia as the worst of humans, his wife paints him as one of the best. No criminal, but rather an "amazing person" and "an amazing father," someone who has always been there for their children, two of whom are on the autism spectrum and one who has epilepsy. The wife speaks of his role as a provider for their household and of the love they have shared for seven years. She paints Abrego-Garcia as a devoted family man who dealt with great challenges.
So, who shall we believe? The high-and-mighty press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, or the lowly housewife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura?
In a nation of justice, you know what they would do? They have what is called a court system. They bring both sides together and require them to provide evidence. You know, proof. In America -- under Trump -- we no longer do that. Justice is a relic of past. The new and improved America has no room for it.
Vice President JD Vance has said Abrego-Garcia was a "convicted" member of MS-13. Leavitt was asked how the administration knows that, and she responded: "There's a lot of evidence. ... I saw it."
Did you? Then share it.
Yes, there's "a lot of evidence." Just don't ask us what it is. Just don't ask us to produce it. Such a thing is only required of free nations. Dictatorships have no use for it. So, get out of our way.
(Index -- Trump essays)
