A petition urging the dismissal of charges against Judge Hannah Dugan has gained significant traction, currently amassing over 18,000 supporters. The petition advocates for the immediate withdrawal of charges following Dugan’s arrest by the FBI for allegedly obstructing justice.
Judge Dugan, who serves in Milwaukee, faces accusations of assisting an undocumented immigrant, Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, evade arrest. According to the charges, Dugan became “visibly angry” upon learning that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were waiting to apprehend Flores-Ruiz after he appeared in her courtroom. The FBI claims Dugan informed the ICE agents that they required a judicial warrant for the arrest. Subsequently, she allegedly escorted Flores-Ruiz and his legal counsel out of the courthouse through a jury exit.
Dugan was released on bond following her initial court appearance on Friday morning in U.S. District Court, where she appeared before Magistrate Judge Stephen Dries. Her arraignment is scheduled for May 15, where she will enter a plea regarding the obstruction charges.
The criminal complaint against Dugan specifies that she is charged with concealing an individual to prevent his discovery and hindering a federal proceeding.
Supporters of the petition argue that the charges are unfounded and represent an attempt to intimidate judicial figures into compliance with current immigration enforcement policies.
“These charges are utterly ridiculous and this is a clear attempt to intimidate a member of the judiciary into cooperating with the fascistic Trump regime’s morally atrocious deportation efforts,” the petition said. “They must be dropped IMMEDIATELY.”
The petition, which aims to reach 19,000 signatures, reflects widespread concern among supporters regarding the implications of the charges against Dugan.
