New bodycam video shows Milwaukee Judge Dugan denying accusations against her
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- New video has been released by the Milwaukee Police Department, showing Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan denying allegations she helped a man who is in the country illegally evade U.S. immigration agents seeking to arrest him.
On April 22, before her arrest, Dugan called police to her home to investigate suspicious materials left at her home, and the homes of her sister and mother. New body camera video shows Dugan's interaction with responding officers, where she said the allegations against her are "all lies."
Dugan called Milwaukee police to her home April 22 because someone had left threatening materials at her home.
She told them, "What I'm worried about is the whackos that will believe this story which is not true," Dugan said. "I'm not being investigated by the feds. The FBI was not there. ICE was there. I directed them down the hall to the administrative offices. What happened after that is their business. I did not hide this migrant in the jury room or in my chambers."
Note: The Milwaukee Police Department has redacted parts of the video to not disclose information that could identify where Dugan lives.
Documents were also found at Dugan's sister's home and her mother's home. They had to do with religion and knives.
While talking with police, Dugan soon discussed the courthouse incident that happened a few days earlier.
She told them, "I did not hide this migrant in the jury room or my chambers."
Ricardo Flores-Ruiz was in Dugan's courtroom April 18, and federal authorities arrested him that day after they alleged Dugan helped him leave the courthouse.
She told the officers she wasn't involved. "A couple taxpayers are mad 'I hid this guy in the jury room.' I didn't do anything they're saying."
She told the officers it's not uncommon to let people leave through the back door of her courtroom. "I had him leave out the back door, which I do when the circumstances warrant it," she said, adding, "And these are the circumstances that warrant it: I had a room of 30 people. And I just sent him out the door."
Dugan also claimed she did not know Flores Ruiz's immigration status. "I don't know he's an illegal immigrant, which is what they're claiming. I'm not supposed to know that. When they come in front of me, I'm not supposed to know that."
Dugan was arrested a few days after the police interaction, on April 25.
She was indicted on federal charges in May, where she's pleaded not guilty.