Public Citizen and dozens of allied organizations issued the following public statement in response to the arrest of Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan:

We are deeply troubled by the Trump administration’s actions regarding the arrest of a sitting judge in Milwaukee. While the facts are still emerging, the manner in which this arrest was handled — deliberately turned into a public spectacle by administration officials, including the FBI Director — represents just the latest example of a broader campaign against the judiciary and Americans’ fundamental freedoms.

Donald Trump is not a king, yet his administration consistently works to erode judicial independence with intimidation tactics, public attacks on judges who issue what the Trump administration perceives to be unfavorable rulings, and blatant disregard for court orders. FBI Director Kash Patel’s public politicization of law enforcement in this matter demonstrates this administration’s calculated strategy to weaken checks and balances through political theater designed to intimidate the judiciary.

These assaults strike at the very heart of our democratic system and must be recognized for what they are — a direct threat to the constitutional principles that safeguard the liberty of all Americans.