Wisconsin judge pleads not guilty to helping man evade immigration agents
Share this @internewscast.com


MILWAUKEE (AP) A Wisconsin judge pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges accusing her of helping a man in the country illegally evade U.S. immigration authorities who were looking to arrest him in her courthouse.

Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan entered the plea during a brief arraignment in federal court.

Magistrate Judge Stephen Dries set a July trial date. Dugan’s lead attorney, Steven Biskupic, told the judge that he anticipates the trial will last a week.

Dugan, her lawyers and prosecutors left after the hearing without speaking to reporters.

She is charged with concealing an individual to prevent arrest and obstruction. Prosecutors say she escorted Eduardo Flores-Ruiz and his lawyer out of her courtroom through a back door on April 18 after learning that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were in the courthouse seeking to arrest him for being in the country illegally. She could face up to six years in prison if convicted on both counts.

Her attorneys say she’s innocent. They filed a motion Wednesday to dismiss the case, saying she was acting in her official capacity as a judge and therefore is immune to prosecution. They also maintain the federal government violated Wisconsin’s state sovereignty by disrupting a state courtroom and prosecuting a state judge.

Dugan’s arrest has escalated a clash between Trump administration and Democrats over the president’s sweeping immigration crackdown.

Dozens of demonstrators gathered outside the courthouse ahead of Thursday’s hearing, with some holding signs that read, “Only Fascists Arrest Judges — Drop the Charges,” “Department of Justice Over-Reach” and “Keep Your Hands Off Our Judges!!” The crowd chanted “Due process rights,” “Hands off our freedom,” and “Si se puede” Spanish for “Yes, we can” which is a rallying cry for immigrant rights advocates.

One man stood alone across the street holding a Trump flag.

According to court documents, Flores-Ruiz illegally reentered the U.S. after being deported in 2013. Online court records show he was charged with three counts of misdemeanor domestic abuse in Milwaukee County in March, and he was in Dugan’s courtroom on April 18 for a hearing in that case.

According to an FBI affidavit, Dugan was alerted to the agents’ presence by her clerk, who was informed by an attorney that the agents appeared to be in the hallway. Dugan was visibly angry and called the situation “absurd” before leaving the bench and retreating to her chambers, the affidavit contends. She and another judge later approached members of the arrest team in the courthouse with what witnesses described as a “confrontational, angry demeanor.”

After a back-and-forth with the agents over the warrant for Flores-Ruiz, Dugan demanded they speak with the chief judge and led them from the courtroom, according to the affidavit.

After she returned to the courtroom, witnesses heard her say something to the effect of “wait, come with me” before ushering Flores-Ruiz and his attorney out through a door typically used only by deputies, jurors, court staff and in-custody defendants, the affidavit alleges. Flores-Ruiz was free on a signature bond in the abuse case, according to online state court records. Federal agents ultimately detained him outside the courthouse after a foot chase.

The state Supreme Court suspended Dugan last week, saying the move was necessary to preserve public confidence in the judiciary. She was freed after her arrest.

John Vaudreuil, a former federal prosecutor in Wisconsin who isn’t involved in Dugan’s or Flores-Ruiz’s cases, said the Trump administration seems to want to make an example out of Dugan. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi or Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, rather than the U.S. attorney in Milwaukee, are likely making the decisions on how to proceed, making it less likely prosecutors will reduce the charges against Dugan in a deal, he said.

Her attorneys will likely try to push the case to a jury trial, Vaudreuil said, because they know that “people feel very strongly about the way the president and administration is conducting immigration policy.”

___

Associated Press writer Scott Bauer in Madison, Wisconsin, contributed to this report.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Senior Trump Administration Official Justifies Limited Release of Epstein Documents Amid Democratic Criticism

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – In a recent statement, Deputy Attorney General…

Volunteers’ Wide Receivers Spread Holiday Cheer with Community Outreach

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — As the Tennessee Volunteers prepare for their upcoming…

Artifacts from Pulse Nightclub to be Preserved Ahead of Demolition

ORLANDO, Fla. – As the city of Orlando moves forward in honoring…

Denmark Emphasizes Territorial Integrity Following Trump’s Greenland Envoy Appointment

COPENHAGEN – Denmark’s foreign minister emphasized on Monday that the United States,…

Tri-Cities Transformed as Local ‘Grinch’ Spreads Unexpected Holiday Joy

In the heart of the Tri-Cities, Tennessee, a familiar green figure is…

Radiothon Triumph: Over $10K Raised in 36 Hours for Isaiah 117 House!

In an inspiring show of community spirit, a dedicated 36-hour radiothon held…

Nicki Minaj Shocks Arizona Crowd with Unexpected Support for Trump and Vance

On Sunday, the renowned rapper Nicki Minaj made an unexpected appearance at…

Hong Kong Trial: WSJ Owner Faces Allegations of Firing Reporter for Union Activities

HONG KONG – Monday marked the beginning of a significant legal proceeding…

Unforeseen Floods Devastate Settlements, Hotels, and Farms in Kenya’s Rift Valley

NAIVASHA – Back in 2008, Dickson Ngome began leasing a farm situated…

Missing Sevierville Teens Successfully Located

In a reassuring update from the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office, two teenagers…

Tragic Birthday Celebration Turns Fatal: Smyrna Police Investigate Deadly Shooting

A tragic shooting unfolded at a birthday celebration in Smyrna late Saturday…

Watch: Orlando Police Deploy Drones to Nab Rooftop Burglar Post-Heist

ORLANDO, Fla. – A man has been charged after allegedly making off…