Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele on Thursday dismissed claims that Kilmar Abrego Garcia was mistreated during his time in El Salvador's custody.
He also cast blame on the "mainstream media" and "crumbling Western judiciary" for what he said has been accepted as truth without evidence.
"But the man wasn’t tortured, nor did he lose weight. In fact, photos show he gained weight while in detention," Bukele wrote Thursday on social platform X. "There’s plenty of footage from different days, including his meeting with Senator Van Hollen, who himself confirmed the man seemed fine."
He added, "If he’d been tortured, sleep-deprived, and starved, why does he look so well in every picture? Why would he gain weight? Why are there no bruises, or even dark circles under his eyes?"
The Salvadoran leader paired the post with a video and photos of Abrego Garcia — who made national headlines earlier this year after being mistakenly deported to the Central American country in March amid President Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration — in his prison quarters.
Bukele's post comes days after Abrego Garcia, according to court filings late last month, recounted the "psychological torture" and physical abuse he said he suffered while being held in El Salvador's most notorious CECOT prison. The man, who had been living in Maryland under a protective order, also said he suffered from sleep deprivation while detained.
The prison is well known for overcrowding, bunk beds without mattresses and toilets shared by too many prisoners. The lights are left on at all times and, according to court filings, "there are no windows, fans, or air conditioning, despite the region’s warm and humid climate."
When he arrived, according to Abrego Garcia, he was "kicked in the legs with boots and struck on his head and arms to make him change clothes faster" and his head was shaved with a dull razor, among other allegations.
Bukele's comments come after the Trump administration brought Abrego Garcia back to the U.S. — months after the Supreme Court ruled the administration needed to facilitate his return and as the president and White House officials doubled down on their decision deport him, who they alleged at the time was connected to MS-13 gang activity
Abrego Garcia was returned to face criminal charges against him stemming from a 2022 traffic stop in Tennessee, when he was accused of trafficking undocumented immigrations more than 100 times and a related conspiracy charge, according to the indictment. He pleaded not guilty to the charges in court last month.
Attorneys for Abrego Garcia have asked that he remain in jail in Tennessee while he awaits trial after prosecutors threatened to deport him to a third country following his potential release, per a separate court filing. The request was granted.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( El Salvador president denies Abrego Garcia was beaten, tortured in prison )
Also on site :
- Will Chicago have Fourth of July fireworks? What to know about Navy Pier schedule
- Legendary Hard Rock Band Teases Big Event With ‘Probably the Greatest Photo in Rock/ Metal History’
- Judge blocks immigrants’ deportation to South Sudan one day after Supreme Court clears the way