Even for Donald Trump this is unhinged
On Monday, an extraordinary group of citizens sounded the alarm on Trump’s autocratic aspirations. In a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi, 150 retired federal and state judges slammed the Trump administration. Not only did they condemn the April 25 arrest of Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan, but they warned that this and other actions are evidence that the rule of law is under attack.
The retired judges wrote that Judge Dugan’s arrest was “no emergency whatsoever,” given that the alleged offense happened a week prior. They also pointed out that the Justice Department chose to stage a public arrest rather than issue a summons, which is common in white collar cases. The letter further criticized FBI Director Kash Patel for posting a photo of Judge Dugan in handcuffs, in violation of the DOJ’s own media policy.
Even more concerning is the indication that the arrest was not merely an isolated incident, but part of a larger intimidation campaign against the judiciary. “The circumstances of Judge Dugan’s arrest make it clear that it was nothing but an effort to threaten and intimidate the state and federal judiciaries into submitting to the Administration,” according to the letter. Indeed, Bondi made it clear after the arrest that the Trump administration was “sending a very strong message” and warned, “we will come after you and we will prosecute you.”
A few days later, on April 28, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt escalated that sentiment. Leavitt told reporters they refuse to rule out arresting members of the United States Supreme Court. The letter called this out as “a cynical effort” that “undermines the rule of law and destroys the trust the American people have in the nation’s judges.”
While court rulings and judicial opinions may certainly grab headlines, judges often stay out of the spotlight. So, it is quite unusual and disturbing that so many retired judges have come together to warn that “[t]he judiciary does not operate at the President’s instruction or at his discretion.” The 150 signers are not just defending Judge Dugan, but they are standing up for the independence of the American judiciary.
Not surprisingly, this letter was issued one day after Trump appeared on NBC’s “Meet the Press” and brushed off moderator Kristen Welker’s question about whether he needed to uphold the U.S. Constitution with “I don’t know.” The letter concludes with a stern warning that “[t]his attempt to intimidate the judiciary will fail,” and the fact that judges don’t operate on the whim of the President “does not make us ‘deranged.’ It’s what makes us Americans.”
Ron Leshnower is a lawyer and the author of several books, including President Trump’s Month