
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">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. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">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. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">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.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">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.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">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. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">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.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">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.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">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.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">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.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">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 &#8212; depending on the misdeeds. ; Here are just a few of the more recent cases.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">1989 Federal Judge Alcee Hastings was impeached and removed from office for bribery and perjury. Democrats later awarded him a Florida congressional seat. Typical.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">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.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">1993 Cook County, Illinois Judge Thomas Maloney was convicted for accepting bribes to fix murder cases.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">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.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">2010 Federal Judge Thomas Porteous was impeached and removed for bribery and perjury.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">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</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">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.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">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. ;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"> ;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.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Dugan case has been blown up out of all proportions &#8212; and we know why. ; Donald Trump. ; This how those with Trump Derangement Syndrome &#8212; the crazies – operate.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">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.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">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”.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">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.”</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">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.)</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">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 &#8230; attacks on Tesla dealerships and private Tesla owners &#8230; and firebombing Republican headquarters?</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The left’s devotion to law-and order is hypocritical and appears to apply only when they agree with the law and its enforcement.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">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.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">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.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">So, there ‘tis.</p>

Hannah Dugan … from judge to defendant
