A week ago today, FBI agents arrested Judge Hannah Dugan on courthouse grounds on outrageous charges. Immediately, Trump officials like Kash Patel and Pam Bondi began to celebrate. But this is not going well for them, and it’s going to age like milk on a Miami sidewalk. 🧵
Let’s review what happened. The arrest of Judge Dugan stemmed from a Keystone Kops type episode that took place a week earlier, when immigration enforcement attempted to arrest an individual in Dugan’s courtroom.
Judge Dugan sent the enforcers out, telling them to talk to the chief judge. Then she sent the individual out via the “jury door.” The FBI now wants to prosecute her for supposedly obstructing a U.S. agency and concealing an individual to prevent an arrest. But there’s a problem.
The government’s case hinges (among other problems) on the idea that the choice of the jury door showed an attempt to evade authorities. But as the FBI complaint details (as @AnnJacobsMKE points out), the door led to *where the agents were waiting.* https://x.com/AnnJacobsMKE/sta...
Attorneys Jeff Mandell and Norm Eisen further summarize the case in a great Journal Sentinel op-ed: https://www.jsonline.com/story...
That’s the government’s case. You’d think the higher-ups would be nervous about staking their reputations on such hole-ridden foundations, but no: immediately after the arrest, FBI director Kash Patel celebrated—in a deleted & later reposted tweet. https://x.com/FBIDirectorKash/...
Shortly thereafter, Attorney General Pam Bondi appeared on Fox News bragging about the case: https://www.foxnews.com/video/...
Both of those actions represent a problem for the administration—because federal DOJ policies prohibit officials from making public statements that could affect the outcome of a criminal proceeding, as @NormEisen and @Lisa_PubCitizen point out. https://statedemocracydefender...
This wasn’t about law enforcement. The arrest of Judge Dugan was a stunt calculated to intimidate judges. Condemnation and public protests erupted immediately.
Here’s how @GovEvers responded:
And here is @SenatorBaldwin:
It’s also worth reading and amplifying the great statements from @RepGwenMoore...
Milwaukee County Executive @DavidCrowleyWI…
And @MayorMKE Cavalier Johnson.
Judge Dugan's attorney said: "Hannah C. Dugan has committed herself to the rule of law and the principles of due process for her entire career as a lawyer and a judge. Judge Dugan will defend herself vigorously, and looks forward to being exonerated." https://www.jsonline.com/story...