Senator Van Hollen Accuses Bukele of Staging 'Margarita-Gate' Incident

Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) refuted claims that he and Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland man wrongfully deported to El Salvador, drank margaritas during a recent meeting, stating the drinks were placed on the table by Salvadoran officials as part of a setup to discredit them. Van Hollen accused El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele and allies of orchestrating the incident to deceive the public and distract from the issue of Abrego Garcia's wrongful detention. He emphasized that neither he nor Abrego Garcia touched the drinks, describing the episode as 'Margarita-gate.' Van Hollen also highlighted the ongoing plight of Abrego Garcia, who has been held in harsh prison conditions without due process after being deported under the Trump administration, despite a Supreme Court order. He criticized both the Salvadoran government and the Trump administration for their roles in Abrego Garcia's detention and called for his immediate return to the United States. The senator underscored violations of international law, as Abrego Garcia has been denied access to legal counsel and contact with his family.