A Salvadoran man who was mistakenly deported from the US before being returned to face criminal charges has pleaded not guilty to two counts related to alleged human trafficking.
Trump officials claim that he is a member of the MS-13 gang, an accusation that Mr Ábrego García’s lawyers and family have strongly denied.
After he was deported in March, government officials initially said he could not be brought back to the US, but later had him brought to Tennessee where he was charged.
Mr Ábrego García first entered the US illegally in 2011 and was granted protection from deportation by an immigration judge in 2019 because it was determined he might face danger from gangs if returned to his native El Salvador.
Everyone pleads not guilty. There’s ALMOST no reason to do anything else.
Even if he was 100% guilty and knows he’s going down for it, you still plead not guilty so you have a chance to plea bargain.
I personally think he’s being railroaded, but pleading not guilty is basically meaningless in cases like this.
The defendant pleads guilty in around 95% of cases in the US. However that usually comes as a plea deal before court.
It’s newsworthy only because it’s an update that the farce of a trial is still proceeding.
Don’t please bargains happen before you enter a plea?
You can plea bargain all the way up to the verdict. It’s possible to do the whole trail, and during jury deliberation strike a deal and the whole trial gets cancelled.
If you’re a cop, you can even get a plea deal after your felony conviction. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/officer-used-excessive-force-allowed-plead-guilty-misdemeanor-felony-c-rcna211380
Not a lawyer. I believe they can, but don’t have to as long as you change your stance before the trial begins.