By Charles Switzer
12:52pm PDT, Apr 27, 2025
Bondi's Strong Statement on Judiciary and Arrest of Judge
Attorney General
Pam Bondi made a pointed statement on Friday, April 25, regarding the U.S. judiciary, hours after the arrest of a Wisconsin judge for allegedly assisting an undocumented immigrant in evading arrest,
Huff Post reported.
During an appearance on Fox News, Bondi expressed her frustration, particularly in light of the actions of Milwaukee County Circuit Judge
Hannah Dugan. "What's happened to our judiciary is beyond me," Bondi remarked.
She went on to describe judges like Dugan as "deranged" and emphasized that there would be serious consequences for those who assist fugitives. "We're sending a very strong message today," she continued, warning that anyone harboring a fugitive, including those helping illegal immigrants or giving weapons to gang members, would face prosecution. "We will come after you, and we will prosecute you. We will find you."
Here's where Bondi stands on the future of the federal judiciary.
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The Arrest of Judge Dugan
The arrest of Hannah Dugan on Friday followed an incident that took place on April 18, when U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers entered Dugan's courthouse with a warrant for the arrest of
Eduardo Flores-Ruiz. Flores-Ruiz, an undocumented immigrant from Mexico, had been in court on three misdemeanor charges stemming from a March 12 fight. FBI Director
Kash Patel issued a statement claiming that Judge Dugan had played an active role in helping Flores-Ruiz evade arrest.
"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," Patel posted on social media.
Dugan's Defense and Response
In defense of her actions, Judge Hannah Dugan's attorney, Craig Mastantuono, spoke at a hearing on Friday, expressing that Dugan "wholeheartedly regrets and protests her arrest."
Mastantuono emphasized that the arrest was not carried out in the interest of public safety and questioned the motivations behind the actions taken against her.
The defense suggests that the situation might have been handled improperly and that Dugan's intentions were not malicious.
Political and Legal Reactions
In response to the arrest, Democratic Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers voiced his support for the impartiality of judges.
He emphasized that judges must be able to make decisions "impartially without fear or favor."
This arrest has added to the ongoing tension between the Donald Trump administration and the judicial system, highlighting a trend of friction between the administration and the judiciary over rulings related to immigration and deportation policies.
Trump's History of Attacking the Judiciary
The arrest of Hannah Dugan is also reportedly part of a broader pattern of criticism from President Donald Trump toward the judiciary.
Just last month, Trump called for the impeachment of a judge who ruled against one of his deportation flights.
Trump's social media post about the judge was notably aggressive: "This judge, like many of the Crooked Judges' I am forced to appear before, should be IMPEACHED!!!"
The statement was so extreme that it drew a rebuke from Supreme Court Chief Justice
John Roberts, who stressed that impeachment was not an appropriate response to judicial decisions, as "the normal appellate review process exists for that purpose."
