The Federal Bureau of Investigation announced it arrested a Wisconsin judge on Friday, April 25, according to a since-deleted post on social media from FBI director Kash Patel. He accused the judge of tipping off an undocumented immigrant so he could escape authorities.
Judge Hannah Dugan, who serves the Milwaukee County Circuit Court, now faces charges including obstruction and concealing an individual from arrest, according to media reports.
What did Patel initially say?
Patel’s original post reportedly read, “We believe Judge Dugan intentionally misdirected federal agents away from the subject to be arrested in her courthouse, Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, allowing the subject — an illegal alien — to evade arrest.
“Thankfully our agents chased down the perp on foot and he’s been in custody since, but the Judge’s obstruction created increased danger to the public,” Patel added.
The FBI director later made another post on X about the arrest.
Dugan was released from custody after a court appearance on Friday, April 25, The Associated Press reported.
Her arrest comes as the Trump administration vows to investigate any government official who does not comply with federal authorities on immigration enforcement.
What happened?
The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported that U.S. Immigration and Enforcement authorities came to the courthouse last week and entered Dugan’s courtroom. An email obtained by the Journal-Sentinel from Chief Judge Carl Ashley read in part, “They were asked whether they had a warrant, and the agents presented the warrant as well as their identification.” Ashley said ICE officials were advised to wait until the court hearing was over before any action could be taken.
Flores-Ruiz reportedly knew that ICE agents had come to arrest him, and he ran from the courthouse, where ICE agents continued to chase him but were able to “apprehend him a short distance away.”
How has Dugan responded?
Dugan denied accusations that she tipped off Flores-Ruiz to help him avoid arrest.
Dugan responded in a statement to the Journal-Sentinel that said, “Nearly every fact regarding the ‘tips’ in your email in your email is inaccurate.”
Flores-Ruiz is in custody but has yet to enter a plea. His case will reportedly be separate from Dugan’s.
