A Milwaukee County Circuit Judge, Hannah Dugan, was arrested and charged with obstruction of justice after allegedly trying to aid an undocumented immigrant, Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, evade immigration agents. According to FBI Director Kash Patel, Dugan intentionally misdirected agents attempting to arrest Flores-Ruiz, who had a warrant out for his arrest due to prior misdemeanor charges.
During a court hearing, the judge reportedly became upset upon learning of the ICE agents' presence and attempted to sneak Flores-Ruiz out of the courthouse through a side door meant for jurors. While two agents were successful in tracking down Flores-Ruiz after he fled, Dugan now faces serious consequences, including a potential maximum of six years in prison if convicted.
Critics of her arrest argue about the implications for judicial independence, with politicians split over the issue. Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin expressed concern about undermining democratic values, while Republican Senator Ron Johnson condemned Dugan’s actions as endangering public safety. This incident follows a recent arrest of a judge in New Mexico over a similar issue, raising questions about the line between legal support and obstruction in the judicial system.
