FBI director says a judge accused of helping someone evade immigration agents has been arrested

MILWAUKEE AP The FBI on Friday arrested a Milwaukee judge accused of helping a man evade immigration functionaries escalating a clash between the Trump administration and the judiciary over the Republican president s sweeping immigration crackdown FBI Director Kash Patel disclosed on social media the arrest of Judge Hannah Dugan who he reported intentionally misdirected federal agents away from a man they were trying to take into custody at her courthouse Thankfully our agents chased down the perp on foot and he s been in custody since but the Judge s obstruction created increased danger to the residents Patel wrote The arrest comes amid a growing feud between the Trump administration and the judiciary over the White House s immigration enforcement policies The Justice Department had previously signaled that it was going to crack down on local personnel who thwart federal immigration efforts Court documents detailing the event against the judge were not promptly available and the Justice Department didn t at once have a comment Friday A person answering the phone Friday at Dugan s office disclosed he could not comment The Associated Press left an email and voicemail Friday morning seeking comment from Milwaukee County Courts Chief Judge Carl Ashley The Justice Department in January ordered prosecutors to investigate for expected criminal charges against state and local executives who obstruct or impede federal functions As likely avenues for prosecution a memo cited a conspiracy offense as well as a law prohibiting the harboring of people in the country illegally Dugan was elected in to the county court Branch She also has served in the court s probate and civil divisions according to her judicial candidate biography Before being elected to population office Dugan practiced at Legal Action of Wisconsin and the Legal Aid Society She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in with a bachelor of arts degree and earned her Juris Doctorate in from the school