Wisconsin Judge Found Guilty of Felony Obstruction of Federal Immigration Officers
Wisconsin Judge accused of helping an illegal alien evade federal immigration agents has been found guilty of felony obstruction of justice, was found guilty by a jury late Thursday evening.
Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan could face up to 5 years in prison for directing illegal immigrant Eduardo Flores-Ruiz and his public defender through a restricted courthouse door in an attempt to evade Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
Dugan was accused of confronting ICE agents who showed up at her courthouse on April 18 with a warrant to detain Flores-Ruiz and of directing them away from her courtroom.
According to the New York Post, the judge then led Flores-Ruiz and his attorney through her “jury door” to a restricted, non-public area of the courthouse.
Flores-Ruiz and his lawyer were able to make it to the street before being chased down and arrested by DEA and FBI agents.
One of the key witnesses for the prosecution was Judge Dugan’s colleague, Judge Kristela Cervera who testified that Dugan pulled her into the confrontation and that Dugan admitted to trying to help Flores-Ruiz evade the federal agents.
Judge Cervera testified that Dugan’s conduct “shocked” her and that “judges should not be helping defendants evade arrest.”
Cervera added, “I was mortified. I thought that someone may think that I was part of some of what happened.”
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, in a post on X, celebrated the guilty verdict, saying, “Nobody is above the law.”
Jurors acquitted Dugan of a misdemeanor count of concealing an individual to prevent his arrest but found her guilty of the more serious felony charge of obstruction.
Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan could face up to 5 years in prison for directing illegal immigrant Eduardo Flores-Ruiz and his public defender through a restricted courthouse door in an attempt to evade Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
Dugan was accused of confronting ICE agents who showed up at her courthouse on April 18 with a warrant to detain Flores-Ruiz and of directing them away from her courtroom.
According to the New York Post, the judge then led Flores-Ruiz and his attorney through her “jury door” to a restricted, non-public area of the courthouse.
Flores-Ruiz and his lawyer were able to make it to the street before being chased down and arrested by DEA and FBI agents.
One of the key witnesses for the prosecution was Judge Dugan’s colleague, Judge Kristela Cervera who testified that Dugan pulled her into the confrontation and that Dugan admitted to trying to help Flores-Ruiz evade the federal agents.
Judge Cervera testified that Dugan’s conduct “shocked” her and that “judges should not be helping defendants evade arrest.”
Cervera added, “I was mortified. I thought that someone may think that I was part of some of what happened.”
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, in a post on X, celebrated the guilty verdict, saying, “Nobody is above the law.”
Jurors acquitted Dugan of a misdemeanor count of concealing an individual to prevent his arrest but found her guilty of the more serious felony charge of obstruction.
70-79, M
