Oversight chair James Comer rips Dem reps for wanting taxpayer-funded trips to visit alleged MS-13 gang member Kilmar Abrego Garcia

WASHINGTON — House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) ripped two Democratic reps on Friday for trying to fleece his panel’s budget for a taxpayer-funded trip to meet an alleged MS-13 gang member whose deportation to an El Salvador megaprison has become a rallying point for critics of President Trump’s immigration agenda.Reps.Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.) and Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) on Tuesday asked for Comer to approve funding for flights down to CECOT, the massive prison that began housing thousands of gang members apprehended in the Central American nation amid a sweeping crime crackdown in 2022 — and has since begun holding accused criminal migrant deportees from the US.But the GOP Oversight chairman denied their request to meet with the purported MS-13 gangbanger Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Friday letter obtained by The Post shows.“It is absurd that you both displayed active hostility for over two years toward the Committee’s oversight of the Biden Border Crisis and the consequences of millions of illegal aliens entering the country, yet now, you are seeking travel at Committee expense to meet with foreign gang members,” Comer said.“You may be pleased to know that a Democrat senator, Chris Van Hollen, was photographed just yesterday in El Salvador enjoying margaritas garnished with cherry slices with the foreign gang member your letter references,” he added.“If you also wish to meet with him, you can spend your own money.

But I will not approve a single dime of taxpayer funds for use on the excursion you have requested.”House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark Green (R-Tenn.) accused Van Hollen (D-Md.) on Thursday of also “wasting taxpayer dollars” by “visiting and defending a transnational gang member and reported domestic abuser.”Van Hollen was denied entry to CECOT but later photographed sharing margaritas with Abrego Garcia at his hotel — though he claimed the alcoholic drinks were brought by the government of El S...