Van Hollen acknowledges didn’t ask Kilmar Abrego Garcia whether he was tied to MS-13 gang

Maryland Democrat Sen. Chris Van Hollen acknowledged Sunday he didn't ask deported El Salvador national Kilmar Abrego Garcia whether he has or previously had any ties to the MS-13 gang.

Van Hollen made the acknowledgment on CNN, several days after he traveled to El Salvador to meet with Abrego Garcia, amid legal disputes on whether the Maryland resident was protected by the courts from being deported, got so-called legal "do process" before being deported and had ties to MS-13.

“What he told me was he was sad and traumatized that he was being in prison because he has committed no crimes,” Van Hollen told CNN. 

He also argued the Trump administration has not provided any evidence of Abrego Garcia’s gang ties in court and that it is using the claims to “change the subject.”