A Wisconsin judge has been convicted of obstruction after protecting an illegal immigrant from federal agents
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A Wisconsin judge acquitted a Wisconsin judge accused of helping a Mexican immigrant evade federal authorities on Thursday, marking a victory for US President Donald Trump as he continues his nationwide immigration campaign.
Federal prosecutors charged Milwaukee County District Judge Hannah Dugan with obstruction, a felony, and concealing a person to prevent arrest, a felony, in April. A judge acquitted him of the concealment charge, but he still faces five years in prison on the obstruction charge.
The judge returned the verdict after deliberating for six hours. It was unclear when the sentencing might take place.
The case has sparked controversy over Trump’s crackdown on immigration, with his administration calling Dugan an activist judge and Democrats arguing that the administration was trying to make an example of Dugan to encourage law enforcement opposition to the job.
The FBI has arrested a Milwaukee County Circuit Court judge for allegedly trying to prevent ICE officials from arresting and deporting an undocumented man, in a case that highlights growing tensions between the White House and the courts.
Dugan and his lawyers left the courtroom, entered a side conference room and closed the door without speaking to reporters. Steve Biskupic, his lead attorney, later told reporters that he was disappointed with the decision and did not understand how the jury could reach a split decision since the facts of both cases were similar.
“I can only say that the case is far from over,” said Biskupic.
Dugan, who was suspended as a result of the dispute, did not participate during the four-day trial.
American lawyer Brad Schimel denied that this case is political and urged people to accept this decision peacefully. He said arresting in the courts is safer because people are checked for weapons and it is not wrong for the law enforcement officers to arrest those wanted in the courts.
“Some want to make this about a big political battle,” Schimel said. “Although this case is serious for all involved, it is ultimately about one day, one bad day, in a public court. The defendant is not necessarily bad. Nor is he a martyr to some great cause.”
US Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche praised X’s decision, saying that no one is above the law, not even judges.
It was a victory for the Trump administration, which has faced setbacks in its prosecution of former Trump critics, including former FBI director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James. The Trump administration has also been rejected by courts that have rejected a number of people who the judges said were improperly installed as US attorneys.
A Mexican man was deported last month
According to court documents including an FBI affidavit and a grand jury indictment, immigration authorities went to Milwaukee County court on April 18 after learning that Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, 31, had reentered the country illegally and was scheduled to appear before Dugan for a federal battery charge.
Dugan discovered that agents were in the hallway outside his courtroom waiting for Flores-Ruiz. He left the courthouse to confront them, falsely telling them that the warrant against Flores-Ruiz was not sufficient grounds to arrest him and ordered them to the grand jury’s office.
U.S. officials arrested Hannah Dugan, a Milwaukee County judge, on Friday and charged her with helping a man in her court escape from immigration authorities. Supporters of the judge rallied outside a federal courthouse where he appeared to face charges, and criticized the Trump administration in its escalating conflict with local officials over immigration enforcement. ‘This is wrong. This is immoral,’ said Casey Serrano with the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression.
While the agents were gone, he spoke to Flores-Ruiz’s case off the record, told his attorney that he could no longer attend his trial via Zoom and led Flores-Ruiz and the attorney out the door of a private judge. Police spotted Flores-Ruiz in the hallway, followed him outside and arrested him after a foot chase.
The US Department of Homeland Security announced in November that he had been fired.
Prosecutors worked during Dugan’s trial to show that he directed agents in the grand jury’s office to open an opportunity for Flores-Ruiz to escape.
The FBI agent leading the investigation revealed that after the agents left the corridor, he immediately removed Flores-Ruiz’s case and placed it on top of his dock, told him that he could appear for his next hearing via Zoom and led him out through a private door.
It has been a year since US President Donald Trump won the election for the second time. CBC’s Mike Crawley reveals how Trump’s policies have affected law enforcement and immigration since he returned to the White House.
Prosecutors also played a recording of his court appearance in which he was heard telling a court reporter that he would take the “heat” for leading Flores-Ruiz behind bars.
Dugan’s partner testified Tuesday that he was shocked by the behavior of his fellow judge.
“Judges should not help defendants avoid arrest,” said Milwaukee County District Judge Kristela Cervera.
His lawyers argued that he was trying to follow court rules that required court employees to report any immigration agents to their superiors and that he did not intentionally try to obstruct the arrest team.
The defendants testified for less than an hour, although some of their witnesses were not present at the events. Defense witnesses included Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, who called Dugan “extremely honest.”
