Fact Check: The decision to charge Abrego Garcia criminally prompted the resignation of Ben Schrader, who was chief of the criminal division at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee.

Fact Check: "The decision to charge Abrego Garcia criminally prompted the resignation of Ben Schrader, who was chief of the criminal division at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee."

What We Know

Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran citizen, was wrongfully deported from the United States in March 2025. Following his return, he faced criminal charges for allegedly transporting undocumented migrants. The indictment against him was unsealed on June 6, 2025, and it accused him of participating in a conspiracy to transport undocumented migrants within the U.S. for several years (PBS, ABC News). On the same day as the indictment, Ben Schrader, the chief of the criminal division at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee, resigned from his position. Sources indicate that his resignation was linked to the decision to charge Abrego Garcia, with reports suggesting that Schrader had concerns about the political motivations behind the case (Tennessean, Truthout).

Analysis

The claim that the decision to charge Abrego Garcia led to Ben Schrader's resignation is supported by multiple credible sources. Reports from both ABC News and the Tennessean confirm that Schrader resigned on the same day the indictment was announced and that his resignation was prompted by concerns regarding the political implications of the charges against Abrego Garcia (ABC News, Tennessean).

While Schrader did not publicly state his reasons for resigning, the consistency across various reports lends credibility to the assertion that the indictment was a significant factor in his decision. Furthermore, the nature of the charges against Abrego Garcia—stemming from a controversial deportation—adds context to the political sensitivities surrounding the case.

However, it is important to note that while sources report on the connection between the indictment and Schrader's resignation, they do not provide direct quotes from Schrader himself regarding this matter. This lack of direct attribution could suggest a degree of speculation, although the corroborating accounts from multiple outlets strengthen the claim's reliability.

Conclusion

Verdict: True
The evidence indicates that the decision to charge Kilmar Abrego Garcia criminally did indeed prompt the resignation of Ben Schrader, who was the chief of the criminal division at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee. Multiple credible sources confirm this connection, despite the absence of a direct statement from Schrader himself.

Sources

1. Kilmar Abrego Garcia pleads not guilty to human smuggling ... PBS
2. Kilmar Abrego Garcia brought back to US, appears in court on ... ABC News
3. TN prosecutor who resigned day Abrego Garcia indicted ... Tennessean
4. Kilmar Abrego Garcia saga continues with court date ... USA Today
5. Kilmar Abrego Garcia, wrongly deported to El Salvador ... Tennessee Lookout
6. DOJ Official Resigns After Trump Administration Charges ... Truthout
7. Kilmar Abrego Garcia has been returned to the United ... CNN
8. Judge to hear Abrego Garcia's pretrial detention arguments ... Spectrum Local News