The release of the emails raised serious questions about whether the Justice Department had misled a judge in telling him that local prosecutors had acted alone in charging Mr. Abrego Garcia.

A newly unsealed order in the criminal case against Kilmar Abrego Garcia reveals that high-level Justice Department officials pushed for his indictment, calling it a “top priority,” only after he was mistakenly deported and then ordered returned to the U.S. Abrego Garcia has pleaded not guilty in federal court in Tennessee to charges of human smuggling. On Dec. 3, U.S. District Judge Waverly Crenshaw filed an order under seal that compelled the government to provide some documents to Abrego Garcia and his attorneys.

DOJ officials prioritized prosecuting Kilmar Abrego Garcia only after his mistaken deportation, raising concerns of vindictive prosecution.

Documents unsealed Tuesday shed new light on the case involving Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was mistakenly deported and then ordered returned to the U.S.