Fact Check: Kilmar Abrego Garcia was not charged with any offense during a May 2022 traffic stop in Tennessee, where officers suspected human smuggling but ultimately let him go.

Fact Check: Kilmar Abrego Garcia Was Not Charged During May 2022 Traffic Stop

What We Know

Kilmar Abrego Garcia was involved in a traffic stop in May 2022 in Tennessee, where officers suspected him of human smuggling. However, during this encounter, he was not charged with any criminal offense. The Tennessee Highway Patrol initially stopped him for driving with an expired license and, after running his name through a federal database that flagged him as a suspected gang member, federal officials determined there was no need to detain him. Consequently, the traffic stop concluded with a warning issued to Garcia for the expired license (Washington Post, PBS).

Analysis

The claim that Kilmar Abrego Garcia was not charged with any offense during the May 2022 traffic stop is supported by multiple credible sources. Reports indicate that while officers suspected him of transporting undocumented immigrants, the federal authorities advised against detaining him at that time. This decision was based on the assessment that there was insufficient evidence to warrant his arrest (BBC, Oregon Public Broadcasting).

The reliability of these sources is high, as they include established news organizations that adhere to journalistic standards. The information is corroborated by legal proceedings and statements from Garcia's defense team, which emphasize that he was not charged during the traffic stop (ABC News, PBS). Furthermore, Garcia's legal representatives have publicly stated that the government's case against him is based on questionable evidence and witness credibility, reinforcing the notion that the traffic stop did not yield any actionable charges at that time (Washington Post).

Conclusion

The claim that Kilmar Abrego Garcia was not charged with any offense during the May 2022 traffic stop is True. Evidence from multiple credible sources confirms that he was stopped for a traffic violation, and despite suspicions of human smuggling, he was ultimately released without any charges being filed against him.

Sources

1. Kilmar Abrego García pleads not guilty to human ...
2. Kilmar Ábrego García pleads not guilty in human trafficking ...
3. Kilmar Abrego Garcia pleads not guilty to human smuggling ...
4. Kilmar Abrego Garcia brought back to US, appears in court on ...
5. Kilmar Abrego Garcia pleads not guilty to federal human smuggling charges
6. Kilmar Abrego Garcia pleads not guilty to human ...
7. Kilmar Abrego Garcia pleads not guilty to human smuggling ...
8. Kilmar Abrego Garcia allegedly made $100K a year ...