Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele on Thursday dismissed claims that Kilmar Abrego Garcia was mistreated throughout his time in El Salvador’s custody.
He additionally solid blame on the “mainstream media” and “crumbling Western judiciary” for what he mentioned has been accepted as reality with out proof.
“However the man wasn’t tortured, nor did he shed extra pounds. The truth is, images present he gained weight whereas in detention,” Bukele wrote Thursday on social platform X. “There’s loads of footage from totally different days, together with his assembly with Senator Van Hollen, who himself confirmed the person appeared high quality.”
He added, “If he’d been tortured, sleep-deprived, and starved, why does he look so nicely in each image? Why would he achieve weight? Why are there no bruises, and even darkish circles beneath his eyes?”
The Salvadoran chief paired the put up with a video and images of Abrego Garcia — who made national headlines earlier this 12 months after being mistakenly deported to the Central American nation in March amid President Trump’s crackdown on unlawful immigration — in his jail quarters.
Bukele’s put up comes days after Abrego Garcia, in keeping with court filings late last month, recounted the “psychological torture” and bodily abuse he mentioned he suffered whereas being held in El Salvador’s most infamous CECOT jail. The person, who had been dwelling in Maryland beneath a protecting order, additionally mentioned he suffered from sleep deprivation whereas detained.
The jail is well-known for overcrowding, bunk beds with out mattresses and bathrooms shared by too many prisoners. The lights are left on always and, in keeping with courtroom filings, “there aren’t any home windows, followers, or air con, regardless of the area’s heat and humid local weather.”
When he arrived, in keeping with Abrego Garcia, he was “kicked within the legs with boots and struck on his head and arms to make him change garments quicker” and his head was shaved with a boring razor, amongst different allegations.
Bukele’s feedback come after the Trump administration brought Abrego Garcia back to the U.S. — months after the Supreme Courtroom ruled the administration wanted to facilitate his return and because the president and White Home officers doubled down on their choice deport him, who they alleged on the time was connected to MS-13 gang activity
Abrego Garcia was returned to face legal prices towards him stemming from a 2022 visitors cease in Tennessee, when he was accused of trafficking undocumented immigrations greater than 100 instances and a associated conspiracy cost, in keeping with the indictment. He pleaded not guilty to the costs in courtroom final month.
Attorneys for Abrego Garcia have requested that he remain in jail in Tennessee whereas he awaits trial after prosecutors threatened to deport him to a 3rd nation following his potential launch, per a separate court filing. The request was granted.