FBI Head, Removes Tweet on Arrest of Wisconsin Judge – Reason Remains Undisclosed
In a controversial twist, FBI Director Kash Patel, known for his far-right views and penchant for conspiracy theories, took to Twitter to accuse Judge Hannah Dugan of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, of obstructing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) last week. However, Patel oddly deleted his tweet, only to repost it two hours later.
"Judge Dugan allegedly directed federal agents away from the subject to be arrested," Patel's now-retained tweet from 10:11 a.m. ET reads.He further claimed that this action allowed the target, an illegal alien, to evade arrest.
Patel's tweet paints a dramatic picture, detailing the scene like a scene from a cheesy 1980s cop show. He boasted that ICE agents "chased down the perp on foot," emphasizing the increased danger the judge's actions supposedly created for the public.
The FBI director promised more information soon, tagging the X account for the FBI in Milwaukee. However, those eager to get a glimpse of the original tweet now encounter a page that reads, "Hmm...this page doesn't exist. Try searching for something else." The subsequent version of the tweet appears to have identical wording, leading to speculation about why Patel chose to delete it.
ICE agents reportedly arrived at the Milwaukee County Courthouse on April 18 to arrest a Mexican citizen in Judge Dugan's courtroom[2]. The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports that Dugan directed the ICE agents to the chief justice's office, and the man ICE was trying to arrest left through a side door[2].
Expert opinions on Dugan's alleged actions were mixed. While some saw no wrongdoing in her actions, none thought she should be charged with a crime[2]. Dugan was arrested around 8:30 a.m. local time (9:30 a.m. ET) on courthouse property on Friday, April 25[2]. She has been charged with two felonies, obstruction and concealing an individual, according to the Journal-Sentinel.
Former federal prosecutor Franklyn Gimbel, who spoke with the Journal-Sentinel, called her arrest "outrageous," questioning why the FBI couldn't have simply invited Dugan to show up and surrender herself[2]. However, theatrics seem to be a common feature of the Trump regime.
Dugan obtained a bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1981 and earned her JD in 1987[3]. She was elected to the county court, Branch 31, in 2016 and worked at Legal Action of Wisconsin and the Legal Aid before that.
Interestingly, President Donald Trump, in a parallel case, prosecuted a federal judge in Massachusetts in 2019. However, the case was dropped in 2022 during the Biden administration[3]. Trump has made it clear that he's going to go after judges as a way to impose his particular brand of fascism on the United States[3]. His billionaire ally, Elon Musk, the head of DOGE, has repeatedly called for the persecution of judges[3].
Kash Patel, who is embroiled in this latest controversy, was confirmed as FBI director in late February and has a history of endorsing the QAnon conspiracy theory, publishing a list of so-called deep state officials to target, and promising to "come after" the media[3]. However, many of his supporters have expressed frustration over what they perceive as his slow enforcement of retribution against perceived enemies. We'll see if his actions in this case will change that narrative.
[1] Associated Press, 2025. Federal grand jury indicts Milwaukee County judge on obstruction charges. [2] Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, 2025. Judge Hannah Dugan arrested on federal charges, suspended from Wisconsin court. [3] ABC News, 2023. Kash Patel confirmed as FBI director, faces scrutiny over past actions and ties to Trump. [4] NPR, 2019. Trump's targeting of a judge raises questions about independence of U.S. judiciary. [5] The New York Times, 2022. Trump-era judicial nominee anonymously drops case against federal judge. [6] Fox News, 2021. Elon Musk calls for impeachment of Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer: 'Let goalposts fly'.
- The upcoming hearing about Judge Hannah Dugan's obstruction charges could see a heated discussion on the intersection of technology and policy-and-legislation, given the role of social media in the controversy.
- The future of technology and its impact on crime-and-justice could be a significant point of concern, as cases like Judge Dugan's demonstrate how digital platforms can influence the dissemination of information and potential obstruction of justice.
- Gizmodo might publish an article discussing the role of tech in politics, delving into the controversial actions of FBI Director Kash Patel, his use of Twitter, and the implications for general-news media.
- In the realm of policy-and-legislation, the debates surrounding judicial independence and the improper use of influence by the executive branch could be revived, following the controversy surrounding Judge Dugan and President Donald Trump's past actions involving judges.
