Trial begins for Milwaukee judge accused of obstructing ICE agents
December 15 (UPI) — Milwaukee County District Court Judge Hannah Dugan’s hearing began Monday; Listening to the judge’s voice, prosecutors said he would “get fired up” by showing an undocumented defendant how to leave the courtroom to avoid immigration officers.
Dugan pleaded not guilty earlier this year to federal charges, including obstructing the apprehension of a person and obstructing and concealing an official investigation, and concealing a person to prevent his capture and detention.
The case stems from an incident that occurred on April 18, when Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials came into the courtroom and informed him that they planned to arrest undocumented immigrant Eduardo Flores-Ruiz. They said he sent agents to the chief judge’s office, moved Flores-Ruiz’s case to the front of the agenda, then helped her and her attorney out the special jury door before returning to the courtroom.
ICE agents eventually located and arrested Flores-Ruiz.
During Monday’s hearing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Keith Alexander played audio from that day showing Dugan speaking to court reporter Joan Butz, who offered to show Flores-Ruiz the private door. “I’m going to do it. I’m going to be excited,” Dugan says.
Alexander said Dugan’s actions were tantamount to formulating an escape plan for Flores-Ruiz. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
“The judicial robes the defendant wore that morning did not place him above the law,” Alexander said in his opening statement.
Dugan’s attorney, former U.S. Attorney Steven Biskupic, said Dugan’s private jury door showed Flores-Ruiz was not undercover and was less than 15 feet away from the courtroom’s public doors. He said he wasn’t trying to hinder ICE agents.
“It’s not even down to your jury box,” he said. “There was a federal agent left and right.”
Instead of arresting Flores-Ruiz, federal agents chose to follow him outside and arrest him after a foot chase, Biskupic said. NBC News reported.
“Now after this incident, everyone wants to blame Judge Dugan,” he said.
