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The FBI announced on Friday the arrest of a county judge in Wisconsin on charges of obstruction. The federal authorities allege that Judge Hannah Dugan interfered with the arrest of a man during an operation conducted at her courthouse.
FBI Director Kash Patel indicated that Dugan “deliberately misled federal agents” from apprehending an immigrant, Eduardo Flores Ruiz, who is unlawfully present in the United States. Following Dugan’s actions, Flores Ruiz was eventually apprehended and is now in custody.
Dugan was taken into custody at around 8 a.m. at the courthouse where she serves, as confirmed by a source within federal law enforcement. She faces two obstruction charges and was subsequently released after her initial court appearance.
In statements provided by an FBI agent, it was reported that Flores Ruiz was deported in 2013 but illegally reentered the country. Additionally, he was implicated in a battery case during this time. A fingerprint match linking him to his prior deportation led ICE to issue a warrant for his arrest and deportation.
While Flores Ruiz had a scheduled court appearance before Dugan, federal law enforcement agents were positioned outside her courtroom, prepared to execute the administrative warrant for his arrest. According to the FBI, a woman was seen taking photographs of the arrest team just before Flores Ruiz arrived at the courthouse with his legal representation.
A courtroom deputy relayed that this woman showed the photographs to Judge Dugan while she was presiding over the court. The judge reportedly expressed her anger over the situation, stating it was “absurd,” and then left the bench to enter her chambers.
Dugan later confronted the arrest team, accompanied by another judge in the public hallway. Witnesses uniformly noted her visibly upset and confrontational demeanor. It was reported that she directed the arrest team to seek guidance from the chief judge’s office regarding the legality of carrying out the arrest within the courthouse. Furthermore, she appeared to be searching for other law enforcement officers who were present and awaiting the arrest of Flores Ruiz.
At one point, an agent waiting in the hallway, whom Dugan did not recognize as part of the arrest team, remained in position for Flores Ruiz. Witnesses in the courtroom later noted that Dugan stated, “Wait, come with me,” to Flores Ruiz as he approached the public exit where officers were stationed.
The judge ultimately escorted Flores Ruiz and his attorney through a ‘jury door’ that leads to a restricted area of the courthouse, instructing them to exit via that route. Subsequently, agents observed Flores Ruiz lingering in the hallway, prompting a foot pursuit that culminated in his arrest outside the courthouse.
Dugan is scheduled for arraignment on May 15, as the case continues to unfold.
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