Federal Charges Filed Against Milwaukee Judge for Alleged Immigration Obstruction

Indictment was handed down by a federal grand jury on Tuesday against a judge from Wisconsin who was detained by the FBI on suspicion of hindering government investigators who were attempting to detain an unauthorized immigrant.

Hannah Dugan, a judge on the Milwaukee County Circuit Court, is accused of approaching officials of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and falsely telling them that they required a judicial warrant in order to carry out their operation. The indictment is two pages long. Additionally, it was said that she had instructed the undocumented immigrant and his attorney to go through a different entrance in order to avoid being seen by federal authorities.

It was one month ago when Dugan was taken into custody and charged with obstructing or impeding a proceeding before a department or agency of the United States of America, as well as concealing an individual in order to prevent his discovery and subsequent arrest.

The offenses carry a maximum penalty of a total of six years in jail and fines of up to three hundred and fifty thousand dollars. This coming Thursday morning, Dugan is set to enter her plea to the allegations against her.

The judge continues to maintain that Dugan is innocent, according to a statement sent by Dugan’s attorney, Craig Mastantuono, on Tuesday.

“Judge Dugan asserts her innocence and looks forward to being vindicated in court,” Mastantuono said. “She said this after her unnecessary arrest,” Mastantuono said.

During the month of April, Dugan was taken into custody, which represented a significant increase in the Trump administration’s assault on immigrants and its attacks on judges. This led to demonstrations in Milwaukee.

Attorney General Pam Bondi made the following statement on the day before she was arrested: “If you are harboring a fugitive, we don’t care who you are, if you are helping hide…anyone who is illegally in this country, we will come after you and we will prosecute you.” We are going to locate you.

Following his appearance before a federal magistrate judge, Dugan was granted bond and freed from custody.

As the case continues to move forward, the Wisconsin Supreme Court temporarily relieved Dugan of her duties last month. The court stated that it took this measure on its own initiative and to safeguard the public’s trust in the courts in Wisconsin.

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