BREAKING: Trump's FBI Arrests Judge In Milwaukee

Summary

Bulwark Takes: BREAKING — Trump's FBI Arrests Judge In Milwaukee

Episode Release Date: April 25, 2025
Hosts: Tim Miller & Sam Stein
Podcast: Bulwark Takes by The Bulwark

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1. Introduction to Breaking News

In this high-stakes episode of Bulwark Takes, hosts Tim Miller and Sam Stein delve into a startling development within the U.S. judiciary: the FBI's arrest of Judge Hannah Duggan in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The episode, released on April 25, 2025, unpacks the implications of this unprecedented action and situates it within the broader context of the Trump administration's approach to immigration enforcement and judicial autonomy.

2. Details of the Arrest

Tim Miller opens the discussion at [00:00], recounting the initial announcement and subsequent deletion of FBI Director Kash Patel's tweet:

Tim Miller [00:00]: "FBI Director Kash Patel says that he has arrested a judge in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on the charge of obstructing the arrest of an immigrant."

Judge Hannah Duggan is accused of deliberately misdirecting federal agents during an immigration arrest operation, thereby allowing the target and a legal alien, Eduardo Ruiz, to evade immediate detention. Patel's statement highlighted the judge’s actions as not only obstructive but also posing increased danger to the public. The arrest occurred at 8 a.m. at the Milwaukee County Courthouse, as confirmed by the DC U.S. Marshal Services spokesperson.

3. Reactions and Analysis by Hosts

Sam Stein expresses initial confusion and skepticism regarding the abrupt deletion of the tweet, raising questions about the authenticity and coordination of the announcement:

Sam Stein [01:03]: "We were all sort of confused about why he deleted it, which led to us wondering if it was real."

Tim Miller reflects on the gravity of arresting a judge for actions related to their judicial duties rather than for personal crimes:

Tim Miller [01:49]: "But just like at the top level, like arresting a judge over not like some other private crime, but right of their job... that is not worth the arrest."

4. The Administration's Strategy and Judicial System Clash

The hosts discuss the Trump administration's escalating tensions with the judiciary, particularly regarding immigration policies. Sam Stein outlines the administration's narrative of a "judicial coup" and frames their aggressive actions as a response to what they perceive as overreach by liberal justices:

Sam Stein [03:43]: "They are trying to intimidate anybody that wants to give any aid and comfort to people that are in this country, not illegally."

Tim Miller criticizes the manner of the arrest's public announcement as a strategic choice to intimidate and exert power:

Tim Miller [02:52]: "The way they announce it... is also a choice. And I think that is what that is."

5. Impact on the Justice System and Potential Chilling Effect

The conversation shifts to the broader implications of such high-profile arrests on the judiciary and legal practitioners. Sam Stein raises concerns about the potential erosion of judicial independence and the intimidation of legal professionals:

Sam Stein [06:16]: "There is sort of a fraternalism around the judicial system. Judges should, in theory, be appalled that one of their own was arrested."

Tim Miller anticipates a "chilling effect" on judges and other legal actors, suggesting that fear of federal intervention may deter impartial adjudication:

Tim Miller [06:58]: "There's going to be a chilling effect, though... people might look at this and they're just like, I can't. I'm not. I don't want to deal with the Trump DOJ."

6. Broader Context: Other Local Immigration Cases

Expanding the scope, Sam Stein introduces another troubling local case from Dayton involving a Honduran immigrant barber, Abrego Garcia. Garcia was deceitfully lured under the pretense of removing his monitoring bracelet, only to be arrested and detained indefinitely:

Sam Stein [08:23]: "He was told he didn't need his bracelet anymore and to come to the Blue Ash, Kentucky office... What officials didn't tell him is that he would be arrested and sent to the Butler County, Ohio, jail."

This case exemplifies the administration's broader pattern of aggressive local enforcement tactics, which often involve deception and violate individuals' rights during immigration proceedings.

7. Public Backlash and Implications for Trump Administration

The hosts contend that such actions are fueling public backlash against the Trump administration. The aggressive enforcement measures, including the arrest of a judge, are viewed negatively by many Americans who see these moves as overreaches and abuses of power:

Sam Stein [09:38]: "Normal Americans are like, yeah, let's have a judge get arrested by the FBI because they might have like tipped off, you know, someone here illegally."

Tim Miller connects these enforcement actions to Trump's broader strategy of deflecting personal accountability by positioning himself as a passive figure shielded by his administration:

Tim Miller [05:35]: "Trump thinks that the safe play here is to be like, you know, I'm just whatever my lawyers tell me... He is trying to avoid personal accountability for it."

8. Conclusion and Future Reporting

As the episode concludes, Tim Miller underscores the significance of these events and the ongoing efforts by Bulwark Takes to provide in-depth analysis and reporting. The hosts encourage listeners to engage with their immigration newsletter for continued updates and to contribute tips through their dedicated channels.

Sam Stein [09:53]: "We'll do more reporting on this and yeah, send us tips if you got tips, thebulwark.com/tips and we'll be talking to you all soon."

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Key Takeaways:

• Unprecedented Action: The FBI's arrest of Judge Hannah Duggan marks a significant escalation in the Trump administration's approach to immigration enforcement, directly targeting judicial authority.

• Intimidation Tactics: The public and ostentatious nature of the arrest serves as a method to intimidate legal professionals and deter impartial adjudication in immigration cases.

• Chilling Effect: Such actions are likely to instill fear within the judiciary and among legal practitioners, potentially undermining the independence and integrity of the judicial system.

• Broader Enforcement Patterns: Local cases, like that of Abrego Garcia, reveal systemic issues and deceptive practices in enforcement strategies, contributing to public disapproval.

• Political Accountability: The administration's tactics allow Trump to deflect personal responsibility, exacerbating tensions between the executive branch and the judiciary.

• Public Backlash: Aggressive enforcement measures are eroding public trust and contributing to growing opposition against the administration's immigration policies.

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Notable Quotes:

• Tim Miller [00:00]: "The FBI arrested Judge Hannah Duggan out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin on charges of obstruction."

• Sam Stein [01:03]: "Normally you would have like sort of a coordinated announcement around this stuff. It's all very bizarre."

• Tim Miller [02:52]: "The idea of doing this as ostentatiously as possible is also a choice."

• Sam Stein [03:43]: "They are trying to intimidate anybody that wants to give any aid and comfort to people that are in this country, not illegally."

• Tim Miller [06:58]: "There's going to be a chilling effect, though... I think that they will succeed in the chilling effect. And that's really. Well, it's really bleak."

• Sam Stein [09:38]: "I don't think normal Americans are like, yeah, let's have a judge get arrested by the FBI because they might have like tipped off, you know, someone here illegally."

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For ongoing coverage and detailed reporting on immigration and judicial issues, subscribe to Bulwark Takes and visit thebulwark.com/tips to contribute your insights.

Transcript

[Tim Miller]

Hey, everybody. Tim Miller from the Bulwark here with managing editor Sam Stein. We have breaking news. FBI Director Kash Patel says that he has arrested a judge in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on the charge of obstructing the arrest of an immigrant. An arrest? An FBI operation to arrest an immigrant, I guess in her court. I'm gonna read the tweet from Cash Patel that he since deleted, so we'll get into that in a second. But he. He wrote just now, the FBI arrested Judge Hannah Duggan out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin on charges of obstruction after evidence of Judge Dugan obstructing an immigration arrest operation. We believe Judge Dugan intentionally misdirected federal agents away from the subject to be arrested in her courthouse. Eduardo Ruiz, allowing the subject and a legal alien to evade arrest. Thankfully, our agents chased down the perp on foot and he's been in custody since. But the judge's obstruction increase created increased danger to the public. We'll have more to share soon. So he tweeted that, then deleted it. Was unclear why, but I guess, Sam, now we have confirmation that this judge has been arrested.

[Sam Stein]

Yeah, we were all sort of confused about why he deleted it, which led to us wondering if. If it was real. Normally you would have like sort of a coordinated announcement around this stuff. It's all very bizarre. But then Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has a piece that says the. That the arrest was confirmed by a local US Marshal Services. Actually, sorry, DC US Marshal Services spokesperson for them said that she. This judge was arrested at 8am at the Milwaukee County Courthouse and is in federal custody. So just let that sink in. We have arrested a local judge and detained her in federal custody over immigration proceedings. I can't recall anything remotely like this.

[Tim Miller]

Yeah, I mean, obviously, like, we're not. Wait for more details to emerge before you get into total speculation mode. But just like at the top level, like arresting a judge over not like some other private crime, but right of their job, like, of judging, like something that is part of their work.

[Sam Stein]

Taking foreign bribes. Yeah, I can see that. Right.

[Tim Miller]

Yeah, sure. A judge that is also happens to be a murderer or whatever. Okay, Right. But this is a judge, like in the prospect, in the process of, we presume judging work. So that is not worth the arrest.

[Sam Stein]

Is the arrest is. I think the allegation specifically is they tipped off a person who was going to be arrested by ICE and tried to let this alleged target of the ICE officials evade arrest and so that it's an obstruction charge. Now, I'm not. This is again, maybe a little bit beyond my Expertise. Sending the FBI after a judge over this, as opposed to sort of trying to adjudicate in less dramatic fashion, is a choice, right? Like, that's a choice.

[Tim Miller]

Well, here's another choice. The way that you announce it. I mean, like, I guess he's deleted, but, like, that we have the FBI director. Like, this wasn't, you know, Bob Mueller wasn't out there being like, we nabbed him. You know, like, we nabbed him. Like, the idea of doing this as ostentatiously as possible is. Is also a choice. And it is. And I think that is what we can speak on, you know, with full information right now. Because what they're trying to do here is intimidate people. They're trying to intimidate officers of court. They've already gone after lawyers representing undocumented migrants. And so they are trying to intimidate anybody that wants to give any aid and comfort to people that are in this country, not illegally. And, like. And this is like a huge shot across the bow. Yeah, right. And, like, that is what that is. And I think, like, obvious.

[Sam Stein]

And I think you have to put it in the context of what's been happening for, like, the past couple of weeks, which is the administration's had a series, not just a series, like a torrent of judicial decisions handed down against them, many of which have restricted what they want to do on immigration. And they've responded by ratcheting up the rhetoric by saying, you know, this is a judicial coup. These are liberal justices issuing nationwide injunctions. They've tried to, you know, challenge the idea of being able to do nationwide injunctions. And they've basically been trying to fight this through more or less PR and legal battles. And now this, to me, and it's being presented this way, too, is them responding to the justice system by actually flexing, you know, real.

[Tim Miller]

The power of their.

[Sam Stein]

Exactly. And so now you've pitted two parts of the justice. Justice system against each other.

[Tim Miller]

Yep.

[Sam Stein]

Yeah.

[Tim Miller]

No, there's no doubt about that. And I also think this is notable in the context of the Trump in Time interview that came out this morning, because Trump was pressed by Time magazine about the way that he's defied the Supreme Court. And it's interesting that Trump's rhetoric on this is like, he is almost trying to ratchet it down. Like, he is hiding behind lawyers. Right. Like, and I think Trump. Trump thinks that the safe play here is to be like, you know, I'm just. I'm just whatever my lawyers tell me. Oh, if Cash Patel, if. If Pam Bondi says this judge needs to be arrested. Oh, okay. Nothing I can do. You know, I'm not, like, my hands are clean on this one. Oh, if the Supreme Court says I got to bring back a Brigo Garcia, but Pam Bondi and my lawyers say that they interpret it differently. Well, okay, I got nothing. Right? And so this is, like the game Trump plays, where they can intimidate, they can act extrajudicially. And he is trying to, like, avoid, like, personal accountability for it by saying, okay, this is. This is. This is what those guys are doing. This is over there.

[Sam Stein]

Right? It's. He. He gets a little bit of a shield right there. He's human shield. And so if this blows up in his face or in the administration's face, he'll just say, well, Cash decide. Cash just went ahead and did it. And, you know, I thought you guys.

[Tim Miller]

Didn'T want me to interfere with the doj. I thought you guys didn't want me to politicize. You know, it's. It's like, I. I'm. I'm. I'm instructing you to investigate Chris Krebs in this case on one hand. But. But then on the other hand, when you guys go out and do something, I'm like, oh, I can't do anything about that. You know, like, this is the way that he's trying to have it. I think it's important just to, like, be blunt about that so that, you know, to. To kind of expose, like, the. How, you know, they're going to try to have it both ways.

[Sam Stein]

What's the I, I. How does this play out from here? Right. Like, obviously, this judge is not. Is going to challenge her arrest. I mean, she's not going to, like, just say, yeah, you got me. No. And. And the secondary question is, how does the other courts react to this? Right. Like, there is sort of a fraternalism around the judicial system. Judges should, in theory, be appalled that one of their own was arrested. But I am curious. And also, how does it go for more adjudication of local immigration cases? Right? Like, if you're a local judge and you're. You're trying to figure out what the right thing to do is around the adjudication of this stuff. You know, obviously they want you to think, well, the FBI might come knocking on your door if you go in the wrong direction.

[Tim Miller]

Here's what I think. I think that the judicial system will fight back and that we'll see a lot of pushback from. From judges. And, but here's what here's what I also think will happen.

[Sam Stein]

It's like a million different fires right now.

[Tim Miller]

There's going to be a chilling effect, though. I just. There's going to be chilling effect, man. I not, you know, there are great cert people out there who work for nonprofits, who advocate for migrant groups who will not be, who will not be cowed by this. But there will be people that look at this and they're just like, you know, I can't. I'm not. I don't want to deal with the Trump doj. You know, if I'm housing an illegal migrant, if I'm doing something, like, I, I do think that there will. That, this, that that is where they'll be successful. I think they will eventually lose again. We don't know the details of this particular case, but, like, they will continue to lose these broader fights in the courts where they're breaking the Constitution. But I think that they will succeed in the chilling effect. And that's really. Well, it's really bleak.

[Sam Stein]

It's somewhat related here, but the whole immigration thing, there's like two parallel storylines going on, and I think you hit on it. One is like the big national headline stories. Abrego Garcia, Audrey or Andrew the barber. And then those are taking 95% of the auction. But then the 5% is what's happening locally. The stuff like in Milwaukee, the. And that's actually more consequential in a way, because this is where you're starting to see some really kind of nasty stuff. And so someone passed on our tips line, which, by the way, use the tips line is great. What is it called?

[Tim Miller]

Theborg.com tips thank you.

[Sam Stein]

I appreciate it. Yeah, so there's a local story out of Dayton about a barber, this guy who has been here for decades, Honduran native. He's been here illegally, but forever. He's had sort of an understanding with local officials where he would wear a monitoring bracelet as his asylum process went through the system. And this is so messed up, but they basically said to him, this is how it reads. It says, I called Rodriguez, the guy and told him he didn't need his bracelet anymore and he should come to the Blue Ash, Kentucky office to have it removed. What officials didn't tell him is that he would be arrested and sent to the Butler County, Ohio, jail where he's being held currently. Jail records show this is the stuff. It's this local stock. I know, it's horrible. It's this local stuff that's happening all over the country now. We're seeing it here and there. And then of course in Milwaukee now you have this confrontation, this arrest of a judge. This is what I think is like the real story. And I think this is also what's contributing to a lot of the backlash against Trump is that people don't like this shit. I don't think normal Americans are like, yeah, let's have a judge get arrested by the FBI because they might have like tipped off, you know, you know, someone here illegally. I think that stuff is the stuff that people require a lot.

[Tim Miller]

All right, much more on this to come. Our colleague Adrian Carrasquillo who writes our immigration newsletter which you guys can check out at theborg. Com. We'll do more reporting on this and yeah, send us tips if you got tips, theblor. Com Tips and we'll be talking to you all soon. Thanks, Sam. See everybody.

[Sam Stein]

Thanks.