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Wisconsin judge claims 'absolute immunity,' calls DOJ indictment an 'ugly innovation'
The legal team representing a Wisconsin judge accused of helping a man evade immigration authorities recently expanded their motion to dismiss the case.Judge Hannah Dugans attorneys say that she is entitled to judicial immunity for her official acts and that the federal government overstepped its authority by arresting and charging her. Additionally, the legal team asserts in its memo that the charges violate the Constitutions Tenth Amendment and the principle of separation of powers.They further argue that Dugan can be charged for conduct that is "wholly unrelated" to her duties as a judge, such as taking bribes or violating someones constitutional rights. Dugan is not accused of doing either of those things in this case."The indictment itself is an ugly innovation. Its dismissal will not be," Dugans attorneys write in the memo.MILWAUKEE JUDGE HANNAH DUGAN ENTERS NOT GUILTY PLEA IN FEDERAL COURTThe Wisconsin judge is accused of helping illegal immigrant Eduardo Flores-Ruiz evade plainclothes ICE agents who were allegedly attempting to serve him a warrant.A federal indictment claims Dugan "falsely" told the agents that they needed a judicial warrant and directed them to go to the chief judges office. Dugan then addressed the case off the record instead of holding the scheduled hearing. Flores-Ruiz faces three misdemeanor battery charges. Despite Dugans efforts, Flores-Ruiz was arrested.NEW FOOTAGE SHOWS MILWAUKEE JUDGE CONFRONTING ICE BEFORE ALLEGEDLY HELPING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT EXITThe Department of Homeland Security celebrated Flores-Ruiz's arrest and slammed "activist judges" who, in the department's view, have attempted to obstruct President Donald Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration."Since President Trump was inaugurated, activist judges have tried to obstruct President Trump and the American peoples mandate to make America safe and secure our homeland but this judges actions to shield an accused violent criminal illegal alien from justice is shocking and shameful," Assistant Secretary Dept. of Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement.MILWAUKEE JUDGE INDICTED FOR HELPING IMMIGRANT EVADE ICE FACES UP TO 6 YEARS IN PRISONFootage released last week appears to show Dugan interacting with the ICE agents in a hallway before allegedly escorting Flores-Ruiz and his attorney out a private exit.On May 13, a grand jury indicted Dugan on federal charges of concealing a person from arrest and obstruction of justice. Dugan pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to go to trial in July. If found guilty of both charges, she could face up to six years in prison and $350,000 in fines.Fox News Digitals Greg Norman and Audrey Conklin contributed to this report.Mastantuono, Coffee & Thomas, the law firm representing Dugan, did not respond to a Fox News Digital request for comment in time for publication.
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