The director of the FBI, Kash Patel, shared a photo of a Wisconsin judge who was arrested for allegedly obstructing immigration agents while she was handcuffed, in alleged violation of the Department of Justice’s policy, CNN reported.
The picture posted by Kash Patel is of Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan which doesn’t show her face, but shows her walking towards a car while being handcuffed and three law enforcement officers at the spot. Patel, while sharing the picture, wrote in the caption “No one is above the law.”
According to the Confidentiality and Media Contacts Policy of the Department of Justice, DOJ personnel “should not voluntarily disclose a photograph of a defendant unless it serves a law enforcement function or unless the photograph is already part of the public record in the case.”
No one is above the law pic.twitter.com/TSrQ4GNMdA
— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) April 26, 2025
The DOJ policy was implemented during former President Barack Obama’s tenure and it was brought by former Attorney General Eric Holder, who worked during Obama’s tenure to make the policy more strict in order for the media to obtain photos of defendants.
In a statement to CNN, Holder said that the picture posted by Kash Patel of the judge handcuffed and walking towards the car is a direct violation of the DOJ policy.
“Whatever the issues with what the judge did, they’re trying to maximize intimidation,” Holder told CNN.
However, it was not known if the DOJ policy for personnel was changed by Attorney General Pam Bondi following Patel’s post on X regarding photos of defendants.
Judge Dugan was arrested by the FBI on Friday on two charges of obstruction and concealing an individual from arrest.
(with inputs from CNN)
