Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) proposed a bill, the True Shutdown Fairness Act, to ensure payment for federal workers, military members, and contractors during a potential 2025 government shutdown, along with preventing mass layoffs. Senator Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) objected to the request for immediate consideration of this bill. Johnson, while acknowledging overlap with his own bill addressing similar issues, advocated for debating and amending the legislation rather than approving it via unanimous consent. Johnson believed a thorough review and debate process was necessary before the bill could be passed.
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A severe humanitarian crisis grips Gaza, where 93% of the population faces critical food insecurity due to a 77-day Israeli blockade. Senator Chris Van Hollen accuses the U.S. of complicity in this starvation, citing the Trump administration’s inaction despite awareness of the dire situation. A proposed U.S.-backed private aid operation has been rejected by the UN due to concerns about impartiality and existing aid distribution plans. International leaders are urging Israel to lift the blockade, allowing the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid to prevent further suffering and potential famine.
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Representative Mike Collins mistakenly Photoshopped a Senate office plaque, intending to mock Senator Chris Van Hollen’s visit to El Salvador to see a deported constituent. Instead of altering Van Hollen’s plaque, Collins digitally altered the plaque of Republican Senator Rick Scott, a past political ally. The altered image showed “El Salvador” replacing Scott’s constituency information. This error followed Collins’s previous accusations that Van Hollen was consorting with an MS-13 gang member, a claim that lacks supporting evidence.
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Senator Chris Van Hollen condemned the Trump administration’s handling of Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s wrongful deportation, arguing it jeopardizes fundamental constitutional rights for all Americans. Following a meeting with Abrego Garcia in El Salvador, Van Hollen highlighted the administration’s defiance of court orders mandating Abrego Garcia’s return, despite admitting the deportation was a mistake. The senator refuted the administration’s claims of Abrego Garcia’s alleged gang affiliation, asserting they are a distraction from the core issue of due process violations. Van Hollen emphasized that the administration’s inaction, even after a Supreme Court ruling, constitutes a disregard for the rule of law. He concluded that fighting for individual constitutional rights is crucial, as neglecting one person’s rights threatens the rights of all.
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Senator Chris Van Hollen vehemently defended the constitutional rights of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident wrongfully deported to El Salvador, criticizing Governor Newsom’s dismissal of the case as a “distraction.” Van Hollen visited Abrego Garcia in a harsh Salvadoran prison, highlighting the Trump administration’s defiance of a Supreme Court order mandating his return despite admitting the deportation was an error. Representatives Van Hollen and Crow condemned the administration’s actions, emphasizing the lack of due process and evidence against Abrego Garcia, who has not been convicted of any crime. The senator’s visit, initially blocked by El Salvador’s President Bukele, revealed staged attempts to portray the situation as benign.
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Van Hollen’s statement, “I am not defending the man, I am defending the rights of this man to due process,” highlights a crucial point often lost in the heat of political debate. It’s a declaration that underscores the fundamental principles of American justice, emphasizing the importance of procedural fairness over immediate judgment.
The core of Van Hollen’s argument rests on the unwavering principle of due process, a cornerstone of the American legal system and a guaranteed right for all individuals within the nation’s borders. This right transcends individual opinions about the accused; it’s a safeguard for everyone, regardless of background, perceived guilt, or immigration status.… Continue reading
Senator Chris Van Hollen visited El Salvador to meet with Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland man illegally imprisoned there by the Trump administration despite a Supreme Court order for his return. Van Hollen’s meeting revealed Abrego Garcia’s detention in harsh conditions at CECOT, a notorious prison, with the Salvadoran government admitting to holding him due to US payments. The Trump administration’s claims of Abrego Garcia’s gang affiliation are contradicted by a federal judge’s ruling and the appeals court’s condemnation of the administration’s actions as lawless. Van Hollen exposed attempts by Salvadoran President Bukele to stage a misleading image of Abrego Garcia’s well-being.
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Following a Supreme Court ruling ordering his return, Maryland resident Kilmar Abrego Garcia, mistakenly deported to El Salvador, was visited there by Senator Chris Van Hollen. President Trump criticized Van Hollen’s visit on Truth Social, accusing him of grandstanding. El Salvadoran President Bukele, who also commented on the meeting, confirmed Abrego Garcia would remain in custody despite the Supreme Court’s decision. The White House continues to assert Abrego Garcia’s affiliation with MS-13 as justification for his continued detention.
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Following a meeting with Kilmar Abrego Garcia in El Salvador, Senator Chris Van Hollen reported that the wrongly deported Maryland steelworker has been transferred from the abusive CECOT prison to a lower-security facility in Santa Ana. Despite improved conditions, Abrego Garcia remains isolated and cut off from outside communication. Van Hollen criticized both the Salvadoran government, alleging payment for detention, and the Trump administration for its refusal to facilitate Abrego Garcia’s return despite acknowledging the deportation error. The Senator emphasized the case highlights broader threats to constitutional rights.
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Following days of uncertainty, Senator Chris Van Hollen met with Kilmar Abrego García in El Salvador, as confirmed by photos posted by President Bukele. The meeting occurred after the Senator’s earlier attempt to visit Abrego García in prison was denied. This visit followed a Supreme Court ruling ordering Abrego García’s return to the U.S., a ruling the Trump administration and Bukele have resisted, citing unsubstantiated claims of MS-13 affiliation. Despite these ongoing disputes, Senator Van Hollen relayed a message of love to Abrego Garcia’s wife.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood