Hannah Dugan … from judge to defendant
Democrats and the left-wing establishment now have another issue to ignite their hair. This was the arrest of Wisconsin County Judge Hanna Dugan for aiding and abetting the escape of a wanted criminal scheduled for deportation.
Agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) came to the courthouse, where Eduardo Flores-Ruiz was on trial for battery. He had a long rap sheet for violent and non-violent crimes – and had previously been deported.
ICE asked that he be turned over to them following the trial. They had hoped to have the handover take place in the court building rather than a more difficult and potentially more dangerous arrest on the streets. In the courtroom, there was more security, and the ICE agents could be assured that Flores-Ruiz was unarmed.
That is where the first level of resistance by local authorities came to play. Dugan conferred with the head judge, and he forbade ICE agents from entering the courthouse. That is when Dugan decided to go rogue and violate the law.
Even though the case against Flores-Ruiz was underway – with attorneys and witnesses in the courtroom – Dugan suspended the case in order to help Flores-Ruiz escape from ICE, AND at the same time escape from justice on the battery charge. Dugan literally came down from the bench to help a defendant on trial in her court escape. It was a twofer for Flores-Ruiz.
Dugan personally ushered Flores-Ruiz through a jury backroom to a room with a private exit in the rear of the building. The only reason for her actions was to help Flores-Ruiz avoid arrest by ICE agents. The plan failed, and Flores-Ruiz was taken into custody by ICE. But that does not absolve Dugan of her alleged criminal actions.
Once the news got out, he Democrat propaganda machine went into overdrive. They reported the “shocking news” of the arrest of a sitting judge in her own courtroom by the FBI – handcuffed (as required) and still wearing her judicial robes.
She was arraigned and charged with two federal felonies. The official charges are “obstruction of a U.S. agency” and “concealing an individual to prevent arrest.” These are major felonies. The maximum penalty is 6 years in the slammer and or a $350,000 fine – although she will not get anything near the max. As an officer of the court, Dugan could be held to a higher standard – meaning some time in jail. After booking, Dugan was released on her own recognizance.
Those with their hair aflame talk as if the arrest was some violation of the law and the Constitution – and as if it was unprecedented. The claim it was political – and evidence of the Trump administration acting in an illegal authoritarian manner – although the evidence suggests otherwise. It is just more of the threadbare Trump as a Hitler fascist dictator stuff.
Conversely, Attorney General Pam Bondi said it was a simple application of the rule-of-law. Judges are not exempt. Regarding the intimation that the arrest of Dugan was unheard of, judges have been held accountable for misdeeds by both impeachment and arrest — depending on the misdeeds. Here are just a few of the more recent cases.
1989 Federal Judge Alcee Hastings was impeached and removed from office for bribery and perjury. Democrats later awarded him a Florida congressional seat. Typical.
1989 Mississippi federal Judge Walter Nixon was impeached and removed from office for perjury before a grand jury. He lied about a case concerning the son of a friend.
1993 Cook County, Illinois Judge Thomas Maloney was convicted for accepting bribes to fix murder cases.
2009 Texas Federal Judge Samuel Kent was convicted of obstruction of justice related to allegations of sexual misconduct. He resigned from the bench after being impeached by the U.S. House of Representatives.
2010 Federal Judge Thomas Porteous was impeached and removed for bribery and perjury.
2011 Pennsylvania Judge Mark Ciavarella was convicted for his role in the “kids for cash” scandal – taking kickbacks from private penal institutions to sentence juveniles to their prisons. His charges included racketeering, fraud, money laundering, extortion, bribery, and federal tax violations
2013 Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Joan Orie Melvin was convicted on charges of campaign corruption – having members of her judicial staff work on her campaigns.
2015 Ohio Judge Lance Mason was convicted of domestic violence. In 2018, he was convicted of stabbing his ex-wife to death in front of their two children. He is serving life in prison. He was previously a Democrat state representative and state senator.
And there are many more judges convicted on various charges, such as driving under the influence of alcohol, drug abuse, etc. etc., etc. Nothing unusual about the Dugan case. Just another example of a judge breaking the law – and getting caught.
The Dugan case has been blown up out of all proportions — and we know why. Donald Trump. This how those with Trump Derangement Syndrome — the crazies – operate.
The hyper hysterical on the left are also ominously suggesting that the purpose of the arrest was more than the apprehension of Flores-Ruiz. It was to “send a message” to the entire judiciary. I hope so. The message it sent is that even if you are a judge, you will be held accountable if you break the law. That is a good message send.
Some on the left concede that Dugan MAY have broken the law, but it is okay. That was clearly the irrational and unhinged opinion of New York Times columnist David Brooks when appearing on PBS “News Hour”.
While conceding the Dugan’s action may well have been Illegal, Brooks praised her. He said of Dugan’s actions, “it strikes me as maybe something illegal, but it also strikes me as something heroic.”
In a bit of word salad gobbledygook Brooks added, “You can both think that she shouldn’t have legally done this, and that morally protecting somebody against, maybe not even in this case, but in other cases, frankly, a predatory enforcement agency, sometimes civil disobedience is necessary.” (This guy must have a good editor/proofreader.)
Brooks argued that widespread civil disobedience is how you bring down authoritarian regimes. They fall when peaceful civil disobedience is met with a violent response from authoritarian governments. A theoretical argument worthy of a political science class, but not sure what he means in terms today, when the co-called “authoritarian government” is acting lawfully and the civil disobedient forces are engaging in widespread violence – assassination attempts … attacks on Tesla dealerships and private Tesla owners … and firebombing Republican headquarters?
The left’s devotion to law-and order is hypocritical and appears to apply only when they agree with the law and its enforcement.
Dugan is not just another case of a judge acting badly. She reflects the Democrats tendency to side with the criminal class – whether it is criminal illegal migrants, shop looters (less than $900) and rioters who commit arson, vandalism, assault and battery and even murder.
We can only hope that the arrest of Dugan leads to conviction and even jail time – and serves as a message to all the judges and prosecutors who put their political activism and personal political views ahead of the rule of law.
So, there ‘tis.
The perp walk picture should be put on postage stamps.
The hair on fire 🔥 seems appropriate for your level of excitement. But it’s sooo predictable for your left hating democrats bashing MO.
Leave the judge out of it
When’s your retirement bash. You deserve a send off fit for the king you think you are .
“The perp walk picture should be put on postage stamps.” Actually, the SOB has placards with the pictures of the deported and their crimes, as judged by Trump, not the courts, lining the White House entrance, celebrating his sending them to their deaths by gulag.
“Democrats and the left-wing establishment now have another issue to ignite their hair.” Hair’s on fire coming from the pant’s on fire team. Speaking of flaming….hair…funny as it torched the blond bimbo Bondi making her scream: “I think some of these judges think they are beyond and above the law and they are not. If you’re escorting a criminal defendant out a back door, it will not be tolerated.” Guilty until proven innocent eh Pammy. Better touch er up, roots showing.
Not to be left out of undue process: “When judges egregiously undermine the democratic will of the people, they must be fired or democracy dies!” mumbled Elon the Mush, poster child for vasectomy mandates…..at least that’s what his brood-sow of a wife says…
The Whitehouse said: “Radical left-wing judges are egregiously trying to stop President Trump from using his core constitutional powers as head of the Executive Branch and Commander-in-Chief,” claimed White House press secretary. “They MUST be reined in.” Get em up, move em up, rawhide! Herd them cats.
FBI Director bugeye Cash Patel dropped any concept of innocent until proven when spewing his judgement that no stinkin “alleged” is needed here: “We believe Judge Dugan intentionally misdirected federal agents away from the subject to be arrested in her courthouse.” Actually Cash, you allege she allegedly…. Get professional. On Friday night, the frog-eyed Kash perp-walked-posted a picture of the judge in handcuffs shortly after her arrest for effect to send a message to all the other judges out there that he will do his best to humiliate because it’s his core belief and the boss really likes to see this shit on TV. Hopefully she will pull a Trump and have posters, hoodies, and hats made to commemorate the ordeal for Kash for cash to support her defense.
She did what she did. They did what they do. She needs to answer in court, probably pretty hard to pull innocent off unless jury nullifies. Larry falsely has this guy as public enemy number one having “had a long rap sheet for violent and non-violent crimes – and had previously been deported,” but Larry has pants on fire; he’s a liar on that one as most sources say he’s got no record. Larry must have listed to Kash when he shoulda followed the money.
Eduardo Flores-Ruiz as Larry says was on trial for battery with his roommates, one of their girlfriends, all over loud music where EFR hit one guy thirty times. It’s three misdemeanors. He’s illegal and his first deportation was in 2013; he recrossed quickly and has been cooking in Milwaukee for the past 12 years. Obama let him in, Trump let him stay, and Biden wanted to make it permanent. Larry who says a long rap sheet for both violent and non-violent crimes, EFR’s lawyer says there is NO CRIMINAL RECORD. But he probably did what he did, the judge probably did what she did, and the Federal DOJ did what they did and we will see it in court. And not that it matters, but the agents were plainclothes and like six of them for one guy.
If she knowingly hustled him out the back door, and that’s what it looks like, and that is the crime unless she can claim she didn’t know they were Federal jack-booted thugs in disguise, which seems doubtful given the accounts.
She’s a sitting judge. It’s a crime that they could have easily issued a summons, an indictment as we did to Donny 2 Dolls for his famous mug shot as he was allowed to surrender himself. Instead, Team Trump opted for the perp walk. Makes for better TV. All over a guy who has been peacefully working here for over a decade doing a job that most Americans would pass on.
Whatever, now we go to court as we should. Hopefully, Team Trump can skip the histrionics, Larry can skip the exaggerations and lies, and due process will prevail. But can we stop the “for effect” shenanigans like shackling, shaving, hobbling, before sending them to die in a third-world gulag that we sponsor as Trump’s Club Fed where you hate to go because the only check-out is for life. Or perp-walking a judge for effect when a simple order to surrender would suffice and be respectful of the position, as we respected Trump’s past position and let him self-surrender even when he was an ex-president. Or disappearing innocents to their deaths. Remember, Horist, these are humans.
It’s amazing how anti law and order that the democrats are. Keep preaching communism. More people are seeing the light. You assholes and becoming extinct. Don’t doubt me.
Yeah, Harry, like we’re the ones disappearing people to Club Donny 2 Dolls in El Salvador to die.
I doubt you.
And I can prove it.
Note that, IMO, this judge should be in the discipline committee for judges before court, but, if court it is, then innocent until proven guilty. Unfortunately, our top lawyer and the FBI wannabe googly-eyed head have judged her guilty already. What follows is how I spell my name: danger, because it’s the facts, just some facts, and then we can see the case unfold starting on 5/15, her first appearance.
“When a judge decides a constitutional question,” Roosevelt argued in 1912, “the people should have the right to recall that decision if they think it is wrong.” It must be “made much easier than it now is to get rid, not merely of a bad judge,” Roosevelt declared, but of any judge. As far as Roosevelt was concerned, the Progressive movement “cannot surrender the right of ultimate control to a judge.” From the last guy who took on the judiciary. Did not turn out well for him.
On 4/18, six plainclothes ICE ERO Task Force members from FBI/DEA/CBP/ICE moved to arrest Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, a man with three battery charges, not adjudicated as guilty, and no other criminal court-warrants at the Milwaukee courthouse or elsewhere. He was under a protective order by a judge who deemed that deportation would put him in harm’s way and risk of death. This order was issued years before this current event. When properly asked by the judge for a judicial warrant, the officers said no. Why six, why FBI/DEA/CBP as well as ICE? How much are we paying for this shit?
The officers showed the judge an “administrative warrant” which does not carry the force of a judicial arrest warrant where there may be state judges, state and local law enforcement, and others may having competing legal obligations under state and local laws and regulations having priority over an administrative warrant. These obligations, under regulations, may conflict with ICE’s objectives, but if we follow the rule of law, they must stand down until other state-level obligations are met. Or take it to court. They chose not to do that.
Judge Dugan read the administration warrant and then directed the officers to the Chief Judge; they were escorted away by court personnel. The Chief Judge stated that a policy was being developed to designate specific locations within the courthouse where ICE could safely conduct enforcement actions, emphasizing that such actions should not occur in courtrooms or other private areas, i.e., areas not open to the public. OK, IMO, this sucks and should have already been completed, but it was the policy and process for the State.
I think State’s Rights, matter, don’t you?
The criminal complaint alleges that Dugan expedited the target’s hearing while ICE officers were with the Chief Judge and then permitted Flores-Ruiz to leave from a jury access door to a public hallway instead of going out the court doors. Flores-Ruz and his lawyer left the courthouse via a public elevator and public entrance where upon ICE ERO Task Force Members apprehended him outside. The word “public” is crucial to the judge’s case.
The FBI cited witnesses and agents saying the judge was “visibly upset and had a confrontational, angry demeanor.” Oh my. Judge pissed off over being verbally manhandled with six plain clothed jack-booted thugs surrounding her. Anger or fear?
The FBI filed a criminal complaint against Judge Dugan, charging her with obstruction and concealing an individual, citing her alleged facilitation of the target’s exit through a side door.
They never called the judge to discuss their warrant for her, they never asked her to voluntarily surrender, they went immediately for the arrest and photo op. Makes for good TV, after all.
The FBI did post her mug shot for fun; do they do that for everyone they arrest or did they humiliate her for effect in a manner not normally used by the FBI?
Back to the facts, Jack, and don’t look back no more…..
“The courtroom deputy then saw Judge DUGAN get up and heard Judge DUGAN say something like ‘Wait, come with me,'” the complaint states. “Despite having been advised of the administrative warrant for the arrest of Flores-Ruiz, Judge DUGAN then escorted Flores-Ruiz and his counsel out of the courtroom through the ‘jury door,’ which leads to a nonpublic area of the courthouse.” This will be contested as Dugan and witnesses noted all areas were public.
Bondi, who was not there, said: “So she continues, continues with her docket, finishes her docket. Two victims sit in court all morning long waiting and at the end. The prosecutors say ‘What happened? Why didn’t the case get called?'” Bondi said. Like the public area discrepancy, this will be contested too, as the Judge completed the Flores-Ruiz case.
Pam Bondi, the nation’s top lawyer, on the record with a public announcement, professionally called the judge, “deranged” and is all in for the case where usually such actions are referred to judicial disciplinary bodies. Kash Patel professionally announced it on social media, took it down, and then reposted it. Jordan and Comer announced it with graffiti on the Capitol’s bathroom walls. Innocent until proven guilty my sweet white ass.
There is also a constitutional argument that may weigh in the judge’s favor. In Printz v. United States (1997), the U.S. Supreme Court overruled part of the 93 Brady Violence Prevention Act that requires local police to help the feds enforce federal gun control laws. “The Federal Government may neither issue directives requiring the States to address particular problems,” determined the majority opinion written by no other than Scalia, “nor command the States’ officers, or those of their political subdivisions, to administer or enforce a federal regulatory program.” Scalia’s opinion is anchored in principles of federalism and the 10th Amendment. Shit, hoisted on your own petard.
Those same principles, which make it unconstitutional for the feds to commandeer state officials into enforcing federal gun control laws, also make it unconstitutional for the feds to commandeer state officials into enforcing federal immigration laws. That is the heart of what you falsely claim is “sanctuary city.” There is also the nasty habit of the Fed to call for help, but never foot the bill, instead just sticking the State for it. FYI: Dugan, as a Milwaukee Circuit Court judge, is a state official.
In the first Trump administration, a local Massachusetts judge was indicted on federal charges of obstructing immigration authorities. The charges were dropped after the judge agreed to refer herself to potential judicial discipline. That’s how he handled before. Now, he shoots photo ops, does press briefings to taint potential juries, and claims guilty because I said so.
First appearance is May 15th —- pretty sure you can see the defense, and it looks fairly strong and highly interesting given it was confirm or drastically change our understanding of State’s Rights against Presidential overreach.
And the facts were always there; you just can’t find them in The Dumpster. No one Khan.