The government lawyer who told a judge that deporting Kilmar Abrego Garcia was a mistake has left the Department of Justice, according to a court filing.
It was widely reported in mid-April that the DOJ had fired acting Deputy Director Erez Reuveni over the flap regarding Abrego Garcia. However, U.S. Attorney Kelly Hayes said in Tuesday’s filing that Reuveni “has left the Department of Justice.”
Reuveni told U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis in early April he wasn’t sure why Abrego Garcia was deported to a Salvadoran prison despite a judge’s order not to, adding the DOJ would try to get Abrego Garcia back.
A day later, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche suspended Reuveni for failing to “follow a directive from your superiors” and hurting the government’s position on Abrego Garcia, which maintained that he was a member of the Venezuelan gang MS-13.
“At my direction, every Department of Justice attorney is required to zealously advocate on behalf of the United States,” Attorney General Pam Bondi wrote in a statement sent to The New York Times. “Any attorney who fails to abide by this direction will face consequences.”
It was then reported on April 15 that Reuveni had been fired.
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