This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
A county judge in Milwaukee has been arrested by the FBI and now is facing two felony charges, including obstruction, for allegedly concealing an illegal alien sought by federal authorities for deportation and helping him escape federal agents, who were waiting at the court to arrest him.
It is Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan who now finds herself on the wrong side of the courtroom desk.
The 65-year-old appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephen C. Dries in the federal courthouse, but made no public comments. Her lawyer, Craig Mastantuono, however, claimed Dugan "wholeheartedly regrets and protests her arrest. It was not made in the interest of public safety."
FBI chief Kash Patel said in a statement that was posted online, deleted, then reposted, "Just NOW, the FBI arrested Judge Hannah Dugan out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin on charges of obstruction — after evidence of Judge Dugan obstructing an immigration arrest operation last week. We believe Judge Dugan intentionally misdirected federal agents away from the subject to be arrested in her courthouse, Eduardo Flores Ruiz, allowing the subject — an illegal alien — to evade arrest. Thankfully, our agents chased down the perp on foot, and he's been in custody since, but the Judge's obstruction created increased danger to the public."
A report at Fox News said Dugan allegedly hid the illegal alien "in her jury room in order to stop that person from being arrested by ICE."
The report explained that when Dugan found out that the federal agents were intending to make an arrest, she "demanded that the officers proceed to the chief judge's office. At that point, they say the judge left and that the undocumented individual's hearing concluded and that he had quickly left the building."
The situation developed on April 18 when the illegal was in for a court hearing.
Earlier, Dugan claimed that local reports about her behavior were not accurate.
Fox reported that state Rep. Bob Donovan, a Republican, charged, "In all my years of Milwaukee politics and public safety issues, working with cops, district attorneys, and judges, I have never seen a more irresponsible act by an officer of the court, let alone a judge, if true.
"This borders on obstruction of justice, and I hope the FBI continues a thorough investigation and, if warranted, prosecution to the fullest extent of the law."
The report said Dugan has worked with legal aid organizations over the course of her career.
The Washington Examiner said the U.S. Marshals Service confirmed Dugan was arrested at 8:30 a.m. Friday.
