A judge ordered the DOJ to release documents over claims of a politically motivated prosecution of Salvadoran migrant Kilmar Abrego Garcia.

Citing a "reasonable likelihood" of a vindictive prosecution, a federal judge in Nashville has ordered the Justice Department to release documents pertaining to the prosecution of Salvadoran migrant Kilmar Abrego Garcia. Despite public denials, the ruling comes after allegations that senior DOJ officials, such as Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, had a significant role. After Abrego Garcia was detained in a maximum-security prison in El Salvador, the case—which began with a traffic stop in 2022—became well-known across the country. The trial has been postponed until January 28 for an evidentiary hearing. The timing of the charges, which defense lawyers contend were politically motivated, and internal DOJ communications may be disclosed in the documents. The DOJ denies improper influence and insists that its actions were legal.