WASHINGTON — President Trump’s pick to lead the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has blown up denials from liberal media outlets that purported MS-13 member Kilmar Abrego Garcia is not sporting tattoos for the gang.
DEA administrator-designate Terry Cole quickly disabused members of the Senate Judiciary Committee of the notion during his Wednesday confirmation hearing.
“Based on your time as a DEA agent in the field, particularly in Mexico, these tattoos are consistent with MS-13 associations?” asked Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), holding up a picture of Abrego Garcia’s inked-up knuckles.
“Yes, sir, that’s correct,” Cole answered.
“Do you know of any other set of combinations that would suggest some other organization this represents?” Graham followed up.
“With this particular one, no sir,” the DEA nom affirmed.
During a heated interview with ABC News that aired Tuesday night, Trump had pushed back when anchor Terry Moran claimed that pictures previously shared by the White House of the alleged MS-13 gang member were photo-shopped.
“That was Photoshop?” the president said in disbelief. “Terry, you’re not being very nice.”
Moran only offered that the tattoos’ significance was “as clear as it can be” at this point and offered to “take a look” at them again following their sit-down.
