‘This is a Clown Show!’ Top Dem Aide on MSNBC Slams Bondi and Trump Over Judge’s Arrest: ‘It’s About Intimidation’
Democrat Michael Hardaway on MSNBC Saturday blasted Attorney General Pam Bondi and President Donald Trump over that the arrest of a Wisconsin Judge accused of helping a defendant charged with battery and domestic abuse to evade federal arrest at her courthouse.
Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan was arrested by the FBI this week on obstruction charges for her alleged role in the attempt by Milwaukee resident and illegal immigrant Eduardo Flores-Ruiz to evade U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents who were there to arrest him. Flores-Ruiz was arrested outside the courthouse anyway while attempting to flee with his attorney, according to reports.
Hardaway, a former communications director for Rep. Hakeem Jeffries and aide to President Barack Obama, appeared on MSNBC’s Alex Witt Reports along with former aide to Republican Speaker John Boehner and current MSNBC contributor Brendan Buck, and the two discussed the situation with anchor Alex Witt.
Witt first played the now ubiquitous clip of Bondi saying “Shame on her” about the Judge during a Fox News appearance this week. She then asked Hardaway for his take.
“This is all a clown show!” Hardaway said emphatically. “This is clearly an attempt by the Trump administration to declare war on the judicial branch, which is laid out in our Constitution as separate and co-equal to his executive branch.”
He then echoed what many Democrats have said about the arrest, saying it was “clearly an attempt by the Trump administration to declare war on the judicial branch, which is laid out in our Constitution as separate and co-equal to his executive branch.”
“In my perspective, this is about intimidation and intimidating any potential judges over the next several years that could stand in the way of whatever Donald Trump wants to do,” Hardaway added.
New York Times writer David Brooks took a similar view, even while conceding that Judge Dugan may have done somethi9ng illegal, arguing over the weekend that sometimes civil disobedience is necessary.
However, MSNBC’s Buck had a slightly different take when he said in the segment that “Democrats do need to be careful about just assuming” that because the Judge was arrested under the Trump administration that “it was illegitimate.”
WITT: So, Michael, I’m curious your reaction to this arrest. And do Democrats have to now be careful how they proceed defending the judge’s actions?
HARDAWAY: This is all a clown show. This is clearly an attempt by the Trump administration to declare war on the judicial branch, which is laid out in our Constitution as separate and co-equal to his executive branch.
In my perspective, this is about intimidation and intimidating any potential judges over the next several years that could stand in the way of whatever Donald Trump wants to do.
I do also think it’s interesting that, you know, look, this woman was arrested. That rarely happens while a judge is performing. Their duty. And so I think Pam Bondi’s response tells you all you need to know that this seems to be a politically motivated action more than anything else.
Watch the clip above via MSNBC.
