DOJ, DHS Officials Subpoenaed As Judge Probes Vindictive Prosecution In Abrego Garcia Deportation Case

Defense attorneys for Kilmar Abrego Garcia subpoenaed Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche and other senior DOJ and DHS officials for a November evidentiary hearing after a federal judge found a “realistic likelihood” of prosecutorial vindictiveness. DOJ plans to move to quash the subpoenas, setting up a court fight over alleged selective/vindictive prosecution tied to earlier deportation actions and public statements. The case stems from Abrego Garcia’s wrongful deportation to El Salvador and subsequent criminal charges, with the judge citing statements by top officials as potential evidence. The outcome could shape how immigration enforcement communications intersect with charging decisions.