Sen. Van Hollen Addresses ‘Margarita-Gate’ Controversy Following El Salvador Trip

Senator Chris Van Hollen addressed controversy surrounding a photo from his meeting in El Salvador, refuting claims related to “margarita-gate.” He emphasized that the drinks in the photo were merely props and criticized both President Bukele and the Trump administration for misleading the public. Van Hollen also defended his advocacy for Kilmar Abrego Garcia, arguing against the deportation and advocating for due process rights.

Senator Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat from Maryland, refuted the claims surrounding the viral photo recently dubbed “margarita-gate.” Following his return from El Salvador, where he met deported immigrant Kilmar Abrego Garcia, he clarified that neither he nor Garcia consumed the drinks depicted in the image shared by Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele. Van Hollen asserted, “Let me just be very clear, neither of us touched the drinks that were in front of us.”

In addressing the controversy, Van Hollen highlighted that the drinks were strategically placed for a staged photo opportunity after their meeting began. He presented evidence by stating, “If you sip out of one of those glasses, some of whatever it was — salt or sugar — would disappear. You would see a gap. There’s no gap.” He accused President Bukele of attempting to deceive the public and criticized the Trump administration for using this incident as a distraction from broader political issues.

The incident arose from Garcia’s deportation under claims of involvement in domestic abuse and gang activities, specifically linking him to MS-13. Van Hollen maintained that the deportation was unconstitutional and labeled it an “administrative error,” without proper evidence or due process. He emphasized the necessity of upholding constitutional rights, stating, “The government in this case … is asserting a right to stash away residents of this country in foreign prisons without the semblance of due process.”

In a surprising twist, Van Hollen revealed he initially faced barriers in accessing Garcia but was later granted permission to meet under pressure from media coverage. He expressed his disapproval of the $15 million taxpayer funds allocated towards detention operations in El Salvador, demanding a halt, stating, “I won’t support the use of one penny of taxpayer dollars to keep Abrego Garcia illegally detained in El Salvador.”

Critics of Van Hollen, including allies of former President Trump, questioned his advocacy for Garcia given the serious allegations against him. The White House contrasted Van Hollen’s actions with those of Trump, showcasing respective meetings with victims of crime. Van Hollen responded thoughtfully, revealing his commitment to due process: “The reason we have courts of law is to punish the guilty, but also to make sure that those who have not committed crimes are not found guilty and arbitrarily detained.”

In summary, Senator Chris Van Hollen defended his actions regarding the controversial photo from his trip to El Salvador, asserting that the drinks depicted were never consumed during the meeting. He expressed deep concerns about the constitutional implications of Garcia’s deportation, labeling it a violation of due process rights. Additionally, Van Hollen condemned the use of taxpayer dollars for unauthorized detention operations and underscored the importance of judicial fairness and transparency in immigration matters.

Original Source: www.foxnews.com