During a confirmation hearing for the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) nominated Terrance Cole, Sen. Lindsey Graham created a photo of deported gang member Kilmer Abrego Garcia, and asked Cole to translate the essentially controversial tattoo.
“Are you familiar with the MS-13? Simply, what are they?” asked Graham.
“They are terrorist organizations,” Cole replied.
“[They’re involved in] Fear tor, tricks, drugs, threats, money laundering…”
“Maryland Man” Kilmer Abrego Garcia has been exposed to police records as a “violent” repeatedly wife beater
Graham then asked if MS-13 members had “membership cards” or if the public had similar ones to identify them.
“It’s not necessarily a membership card, but it’s recognized based on the difference from a tattoo. [things]Cole said.
Creating a tattoo photo, Graham asked Cole to translate each one in Rebus Puzzle fashion.
“What do the photos and those markings suggest to you based on DEA’s time, experience and expertise?” he asked.
“Not Maryland”: GOP blows up Democratic senators fighting for the return of Salvador people
“Well, they suggest he’s a member of the MS-13. Those are his markings. That’s his brand.”
When asked what the leaf of his first knuckle was standing for, Cole said it was marijuana starting with “M.” The second finger is “Smiley Face”, followed by the number “1” and the one that appears to be “backwards 3 from here”.
“Therefore, these tattoos are consistent with the association of MS-13, especially based on their time as a DEA agent in Mexico,” asked Graham.
“Yes, that’s correct,” Cole replied.
To dispel further criticism, Graham went on to ask if there were other organizations using that set of symbols.
The call responded negatively.
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On Monday, House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries, Dn.Y., was asked by the outlet to meet Garcia about the recent Democrats’ trip to El Salvador.
A Democrat aide later told the outlet that Jeffries reportedly disappointed him further.
The controversy over Garcia’s tattoos also boiled down in a recent interview between ABC News’ Terry Moran and President Donald Trump.
“Wait a second, he had a ‘MS-13’ on his knuckle,” Trump said, Moran said before rebutting, “There are some tattoos that are interpreted that way.”
Charles Kraitz is a reporter for Fox News Digital.
He joined Fox News in 2013 as a writer and production assistant.
Charles covers the media, politics and culture of Fox News Digital.
Charles is a Pennsylvania native and graduated from Temple University with a Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Journalism. Story tips can be sent to charles.creitz@fox.com.
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