FBI Chief Removes Tweet Regarding Wisconsin Judge's Arrest; Reason Behind Deletion Unknown
Rewritten Article:
Kash Patel, a contentious figure with a penchant for conspiracies and a flair for drama, took to Twitter last Friday to accuse Judge Hannah Dugan of Wisconsin of obstructing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). However, the tweet vanished shortly after, only to resurface minutes later with identical wording.
At 10:11 a.m. ET, Patel, serving as the director of the FBI, tweeted, "Just NOW, the FBI arrested Judge Hannah Dugan from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on charges of obstruction-after evidence of Judge Dugan obstructing an immigration arrest operation last week."
"We suspect Judge Dugan intentionally led federal agents away from the target in her courthouse, allowing the person to escape," he continued. Securing the evading suspect, Patel claimed, required a foot chase, and he insinuated that Dugan's actions endangered the public. Finally, he teased, "I'll have more to share soon" and tagged the X account for the FBI in Milwaukee.
This initial tweet can now only be found at a dead end—a page stating, "Hmm...this page doesn't exist. Try searching for something else." Patel's revised tweet retains the same narrative, making it a mystery as to why he deleted the original post. The U.S. Department of Justice failed to respond to questions regarding Patel's tweet emailed on Friday.
On April 18, ICE agents arrived at the Milwaukee County Courthouse to apprehend a Mexican citizen in Judge Dugan's courtroom, allegedly according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. The newspaper reports that Dugan directed the ICE agents to the chief justice's office. Consequently, the elusive suspect slipped through a side door. Five experts consulted by the Journal-Sentinel provided mixed opinions on Dugan's alleged actions, with none calling for her arrest.
The U.S. Marshals Service confirmed Dugan's arrest around 8:30 a.m. local time (9:30 a.m. ET) on courthouse property on Friday. Dugan stood before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephen C. Dries and faces two felony charges: obstruction and concealing an individual, according to the Journal-Sentinel.
During the hearing, Dugan remained silent, but her attorney averred, "Judge Dugan wholeheartedly regrets and disavows her arrest. It was not made in the interest of public safety." Franklyn Gimbel, a former federal prosecutor in Milwaukee who spoke to the Journal-Sentinel, termed her arrest "outrageous," noting that a more circumspect approach, such as inviting her to surrender voluntarily, could have been employed. Nevertheless, the sensational appeal of television-style theatrics seems to be a priority for the Trump administration.
Dugan, 65, graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1981 and earned her JD in 1987. She was elected to county court, Branch 31, in 2016 and previously worked at Legal Action of Wisconsin and the Legal Aid organization.
Remarkably, President Donald Trump indicted a federal judge in a similar case in 2019; however, that case was discontinued in 2022 during the Biden administration. Trump's determination to pursue judges as a means of establishing his unique brand of authoritarianism is evident. Notably, Elon Musk, CEO of DOGE, has repeatedly advocated for the persecution of judges via Twitter. Musk commented on the case on Friday, writing, "Evidence of more judicial corruption."
Kash Patel assumed the position of FBI director in late February, with a vote of 51-49. U.S. Senate Democrats and two Republicans, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine, all voted against Patel's confirmation. Patel affiliated with Trump Media, the owner of Donald Trump's Truth Social, before abandoning his role to take the FBI position. Moreover, he amassed at least $2.6 million from consulting and media deals, as reported by ABC News, and authored a fantastical children's book depicting Donald Trump as a monarch entitled, "The Plot Against the King."
Patel has consistently supported QAnon conspiracy theories, published a list of alleged deep state officials to be targeted, and has threatened retaliation against the media. On social media, Patel's supporters have expressed frustration with what they perceive as delayed retribution against their perceived enemies. Time will tell if Patel's perceived aggression against judges ushers in a new era of judicial persecution in the United States.
- Kash Patel's Twitter account, known for its controversial posts and drama, accused Judge Hannah Dugan of obstructing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on April 18.
- The Future of tech journalism, such as Gizmodo, may cover the reemergence of Patel's tweet claiming Judge Dugan intentionally obstructed an immigration arrest operation.
- In the realm of policy-and-legislation and politics, the arrest of Judge Dugan and the controversy surrounding it raise questions about the role of judges and potential encroachment on their independence.
- As the case unfolds, crime-and-justice advocates and general-news platforms could bring attention to the mixed opinions on Dugan's alleged actions, legal proceedings, and the broader implications for the judicial system.
