There is new video, courthouse surveillance video of the suspect federal immigration agents wanted to apprehend in Wisconsin judge Hannah Duggan’s courtroom. The case has gotten a lot of attention and will get more. The feds have accused (and RWNJ news has amplified) a narrative that Judge Hannah Duggan was ‘confrontational’, and ‘snuck their target out of the courthouse’. Conservatives are in meltdown mode, having been whipped into a frenzy about some judge simultaneously employing pro-football lineman blocking tactics AND stealth tactics to sneak the guy all the way out of the courthouse! So, since I used a sports metaphor let’s go to the video, which shows neither was the case.
This has all been one hot, avoidable AND overblown mess from the start. I looked for an article I saw right when this happened that noted a couple of things no longer mentioned. They guy federal agents were there to arrest was in court on a misdemeanor domestic battery charge. His roommate complained he’d been playing his music too loudly and Flores-Ruiz beat him up. Worse, he also hit the guy’s girlfriend. His immigration status wasn’t part of the charges, only that he’d physically assaulted others. Domestic incident like that happen all over the place every day.
Most don’t ever make it to court but when they do even a MAGA goober understands how it’s good to keep the assailant and the victims separated. NOT sending them out of the same courtroom door seems (to me at least) like a no-brainer. Any judge and bailiff with a lick of common sense would either hold back the defendant or send him/her out through a different exit if there was one. That was the case here.
What complicated things was that at least SIX federal agents showed up intending to take Flores-Ruiz into custody for having committed the crime of ‘illegal entry’ a second time. He’s been caught crossing the first time back in 2013 and immediately deported. That’s usually how it works – treated quickly as a civil misdemeanor resulting in deportation. However a second offense is almost always elevated to felony and criminal status. Since this guy turned right around and snuck back into the U.S. he was subject to much harsher treatment under the law if he ran into trouble. He seems to have lived a quiet life with no problems, working as a cook until he attacked others because they wanted him to turn down the freaking volume of his music.
Well, a complaint was filed followed by charges and that’s how this dude wound up showing up to court for a hearing meant to move the case along. The most detailed accounting I’ve found is from this NYT article. I’d read it while you can since it’s not hidden behind a paywall (yet) and it tells us a lot about events that day. It says before things got started the judge was informed that federal agents there were to arrest the defendant. Calling the situation “absurd” she left the bench. She then spoke to some of them out in the hall and that’s where accounts differ.
The feds claimed she was ‘combative’ while her defense team says she told them they needed to speak with the chief judge about plans to effect an arrest. Basically they were told no, NOT in the courtroom but if they wanted to apprehend Flores-Ruiz in the hallway they could do so. You can look at the video (about two minutes worth of various shots) and form your own opinion on whether the judge was “combative.” To me she looks calm and the agents (all six, or possible more there that day) were in plainclothes. Not suits, but dressed casual looking for all the world like regular folks. The judge points down the hall at one point, presumably letting the two guys sitting on the bench and a third one nearby where they could find the chief judge.
What followed next in the courtroom will be up to transcripts and testimony to determine as there’s no video of it. The judge is alleged to have told the defendant and his lawyer ‘come with me’ and led them into the jury room which we now know had an exit into another hallway than the main entrance of the courtroom. Remember what I said earlier about keeping both sides in domestic cases away from each other? Anyway what matters is that the feds had so many agents on hand and guess where one of them sat? Across from that jury room exit door Flores-Ruiz and his lawyer left from!
I’ve seen videos of the guy and his lawyer walking down the hall and to the elevator. AND the implication that it was judge Duggan ‘safely’ escorting (or sneaking?) him out. Take a close look. We see judge Duggan on video in her robe, along with a fellow judge also in a robe. Duggan has had dark hair in older photos but she at some point decided to go blonde. The other judge has dark hair but much shorter than the woman we see with Flores-Ruiz walking to the elevator (followed by an agent I should add) and later leaving the courthouse. However a fair amount of effort has gone into suggesting it was Duggan PERSONALLY who “walked the guy out” to “protect him.” Clearly she didn’t. He was accompanied by his freaking lawyer!
Here’s two minutes (as promised) of various video shots of the whole thing:
I take issue with some of the captioning as it says she sent Flores-Ruiz out an exit near the main door. Say what? It shows him walking down a hallway. He and his lawyer have to take a freaking elevator. Other video shows them walking down a long hall towards an exit, followed I should note by the agent who was posted outside the jury room door. And followed him down and then eventually out of the building!
There’s another, shorter and more concise courthouse video clip in this article from The Independent. Alas, I’m not able to embed it here so you’ll have to click on the link to view it but if confirms what I’ve written. Right now it’s a war of words between those defending the judge and Team Trump which wants to make an example out of her. She’s not backing down and if, if only to avoid more controversy the case against her isn’t dismissed (as it should be) this will play out in court. Where Trump and his minions don’t run the show and make up the rules as they go.
I said earlier this was all both unnecessary and and avoidable. One can argue whether it’s proper for federal agents to show up in state courthouses to arrest “illegal immigrants.” Hell, I’ve done so. It’s my belief there was a specific agenda here. If you recall there was a special election for a State Supreme Court seat in WI not long ago. It was fiercely fought and even Elon Musk made a big show of being involved. However the Democrat won and with it control of that court. So, Team Trump decided to get some ‘payback’ with a show of force in that state.
SIX (maybe more) federal agents to arrest one guy in a routine misdemeanor assault case? I’m betting they wanted to slap the cuffs on the guy in the actual courtroom, perhaps even during proceedings. A message of ‘WE are in charge, will do what we want, when and where we want and YOU can’t do anything about it.’Â I’m sure they would have taken video had they been allowed to arrest the guy in the courtroom!
They telegraphed their punch though, and like any self-respecting and no-nonsense judge (she has that reputation) got told ‘Not in MY courtroom. You can wait in the hall and do it out here, and if you insist of making your arrest in my courtroom you can take it up with the chief judge. His office is that way.’ The thing is as I’ve noted the feds had plenty of agents on hand and could easily cover any exit from the courtroom and arrest the guy in the hall. And in fact one was right there when the dude and his lawyer came out the jury room door! If he didn’t think he could take down Flores-Ruiz without help he had plenty of time to text his pals. On the way to the elevator. While ON the elevator.
There was plenty of time to have backup to make an arrest before leaving the courthouse. I actually think since they wanted to make the arrest in the courtroom and having been deprived of putting on their ‘bigly show of force’ hastily planned and carried out a plan B. Just trail the guy out and be in position to arrest him ‘on the run, having been aided by the judge’ in an ‘attempted escape.’ He was after all apprehended only a block away!
I say this whole thing was intended to be some Trump show of how powerful he was. When it went to sh*t he couldn’t bring himself to back down. So the demonization of the judge started and for her it will never end. Even when Trump’s lawyers lose in court next month! Judge Duggan’s life will never be the same. She’s at a point in life where she could be looking forward to a nice retirement. Instead, even after being acquitted in court of these bogus charges she will have a target on her back. And several more years of a Trump administration doing all it can to make her life a living hell.
***From Ursula*** Zoomers, if you’re able to contribute in any way, we could use help. I’ve been ill and recuperating from a brief hospitalization. Times are tough for political commentary to begin with, and that’s been the case since November 5. Half the country is in a major depression. But we need to keep on keeping on. This too shall pass and there will be a brighter, post-Trump day if we work for it. Please join us and help if you can. Thank you. Ursula
Video:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/video/news/new-video-shows-judge-hannah-dugan-with-federal-agents-in-moment-that-led-to-her-arrest/vi-AA1FWkY7?ocid=socialshare