{"id":2571549,"date":"2026-02-19T17:15:02","date_gmt":"2026-02-19T22:15:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bondi-and-patels-comments-cant-help-judge-in-illegal-immigrant-escape-case\/"},"modified":"2026-02-19T17:17:07","modified_gmt":"2026-02-19T22:17:07","slug":"bondi-and-patels-comments-cant-help-judge-in-illegal-immigrant-escape-case","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bondi-and-patels-comments-cant-help-judge-in-illegal-immigrant-escape-case\/","title":{"rendered":"Bondi and Patel&#8217;s comments can&#8217;t help judge in illegal immigrant escape case"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fbondi-and-patels-comments-cant-help-judge-in-illegal-immigrant-escape-case%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2571549&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel publicly commented on Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan\u2019s arrest in April for allegedly helping an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/milwaukee-judge-hannah-dugan-pleads-not-guilty-in-obstruction-case\/\" title=\"... ... pleads not guilty in obstruction ...\">illegal immigrant evade federal arrest<\/a>. A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/iranian-dissidents-slam-nominee-for-top-defense-post\/\" title=\"Iranian Dissidents Slam Nominee for Top Defense Post\">federal judge ruled<\/a> those comments cannot be used in Dugan\u2019s trial, stating they risk unfair prejudice and have limited probative value. Dugan is charged with two counts of obstruction for allegedly helping an illegal immigrant and his lawyer exit her courtroom via a back door as federal agents arrived. The trial is set for December in Milwaukee, with the DOJ expecting 25\u201328 witnesses; jury selection begins December 11 and the trial starts December 15. Dugan has pleaded not guilty; the charges carry up to six years in prison and a $350,000 fine if convicted.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Bondi and Patel&rsquo;s comments can&rsquo;t help judge in <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >illegal immigrant escape case<\/a><\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2410407\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Attorney General <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/pam-bondi\/\">Pam Bondi<\/a> and FBI Director <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/kash-patel\/\">Kash Patel<\/a>&lsquo;s comments about a Wisconsin judge who was arrested for allegedly helping an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fbi-arrests-milwaukee-judge-hannah-dugan-over-obstructing-ice-operations\/\" title=\"FBI ...s ... ... over obstructing ICE operations\">illegal immigrant evade arrest<\/a> from federal immigration officers may not be used in an upcoming trial against the judge, a federal judge ruled.<\/p>\n<p>Milwaukee County Circuit Judge&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3792165\/trial-hannah-dugan-judge-accused-helping-illegal-immigrant-evade-arrest-set-december\/\">Hannah Dugan<\/a> was indicted in April on two charges of obstruction when she allegedly helped an illegal immigrant and his lawyer, who were before her court, exit her courtroom via a back door after federal agents appeared at the courthouse to arrest him. Bondi and Patel both made public comments about Dugan&rsquo;s arrest in April, which her lawyers wanted to include in the trial, but U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/storage.courtlistener.com\/recap\/gov.uscourts.wied.111896\/gov.uscourts.wied.111896.72.0.pdf\">denied<\/a> the bid.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4463554\/8th-circuit-could-trump-win-mandatory-immigration-detention\/\">8th Circuit may give Trump another win on mandatory immigration detention<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4463436\/who-has-fallen-resigned-epstein-files\/\">Here&#8217;s who has fallen from the Epstein files<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4462407\/trump-doj-epstein-review-delays-lawfare-accountability\/\">Diversion of 500 lawyers to Epstein files delayed &#8216;accountability on lawfare,&#8217; top Trump ally says<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Bondi and Patel both posted about Dugan&rsquo;s arrest in April, with the FBI director posting a photo of Dugan being perp-walked with the caption &ldquo;No one is above the law.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">No one is above the law <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/TSrQ4GNMdA\">pic.twitter.com\/TSrQ4GNMdA<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/FBIDirectorKash\/status\/1915920876215701639?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 26, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>    <\/p>\n<p>Dugan&rsquo;s lawyers argued the comments showed evidence of bias in her prosecution, while the Justice Department argued they should not be used because neither Bondi nor Patel will be testifying or parties to the case.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Without more, I agree with the government defendant should not be permitted to inject national political figures into this trial. Any slight probative value of this evidence is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusing the issues, misleading the jury, undue delay, and wasting time,&rdquo; Adelman said in his Tuesday evening order.<\/p>\n<p>During the final pretrial conference in the case, the Justice Department said it expects to call 25 to 28 witnesses during the December trial. Jury selection in the case is scheduled to begin on Dec. 11, while the trial itself is set to begin on Dec. 15 in a federal courthouse in Milwaukee.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3782934\/illegal-immigrant-escape-case-judge-dugan-will-proceed\/\">ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT ESCAPE CASE AGAINST JUDGE HANNAH DUGAN WILL PROCEED: FEDERAL JUDGE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The trial was originally scheduled for July, but was delayed after Dugan filed a motion to dismiss the case, citing judicial immunity for her alleged actions. Adelman rejected her immunity claims in August, allowing the high-profile case to move toward a trial.<\/p>\n<p>Dugan has pleaded not guilty to both charges levied against her. The maximum sentence for the pair of charges carries up to six years in prison and a $350,000 fine if convicted.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Here\u2019s a paraphrase of the article:<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; A federal judge ruled that remarks by Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel about Milwaukee Judge Hannah Dugan cannot be used at her upcoming trial. Dugan is charged with obstruction for allegedly helping an illegal immigrant and his lawyer slip out of court after federal agents arrived. Bondi and Patel publicly commented on the arrest in April; the defense argued the comments show bias, but the DOJ said they aren\u2019t admissible since Bondi and Patel aren\u2019t witnesses or parties. The judge said any slight probative value is outweighed by risks of unfair prejudice, confusion, and delay. The DOJ expects 25\u201328 witnesses; jury selection starts December 11, with trial on December 15 in Milwaukee. Dugan has pleaded not guilty; immunity claims were rejected in August; the maximum penalty on the two counts is up to six years in prison and a $350,000 fine.<\/p>\n<p>If you want a 55-character version, here\u2019s a concise option:<br \/>\n&#8211; Judge barred from using Bondi\/Patel remarks in case<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2638,"featured_media":2571550,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/AP25318832298903_e61dba.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[45543,3813,4151,51054],"class_list":["post-2571549","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-bondi","tag-immigration","tag-judiciary","tag-patel-2"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/AP25318832298903_e61dba.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2571549","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2638"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2571549"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2571549\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2571553,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2571549\/revisions\/2571553"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2571550"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2571549"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2571549"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2571549"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}