标签： North America

A Milwaukee County Circuit Judge has been convicted on obstruction charges for assisting a Mexican national in evading federal immigration authorities during court proceedings. Judge Hannah Dugan, 66, was found guilty after a federal jury determined she intentionally helped Eduardo Flores-Ruiz avoid arrest by directing him through a restricted exit during his court appearance on April 18.

The incident occurred when six federal officers from multiple agencies including FBI, ICE, and DEA were present in Dugan’s courtroom to execute an immigration warrant for Flores-Ruiz, who was facing misdemeanor battery charges. According to FBI affidavits, Dugan became visibly angered by the warrant type and instructed officers to report to the chief judge instead. During this diversion, she escorted Flores-Ruiz and his attorney through a private jurors’ exit.

Despite Dugan’s intervention, immigration agents apprehended Flores-Ruiz shortly afterward, and he was subsequently deported. The conviction represents a significant victory for the Trump administration, which has frequently criticized what it perceives as a politicized justice system.

While the jury found Dugan guilty of obstruction, they acquitted her on additional charges of obstructing a criminal proceeding and concealing a person from arrest. Her defense attorney, Steven Biskupic, argued that Dugan merely directed the defendant “out into the hallway with his lawyer” without malicious intent.

Following the verdict, Dugan’s legal team maintained her innocence, stating the partial acquittal demonstrated opportunities to clear her name. Conversely, Deputy US Attorney General Todd Blanche declared the conviction affirmed that “nobody is above the law,” emphasizing the Department of Justice’s commitment to enforcing immigration laws and holding obstructors accountable regardless of position.

Dugan now faces a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment, though a sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.

A palpable sense of anticipation has emerged among supporters of former President Donald Trump regarding the impending disclosure of court documents connected to the Jeffrey Epstein case. This development follows a federal judge’s order to unseal records from a settled 2015 civil lawsuit, potentially revealing additional details about Epstein’s network of associates.

At a recent gathering organized by the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA, attendees expressed strong expectations that the document release would validate long-standing theories about Epstein’s connections to political elites. Many supporters articulated their belief that the documents would expose what they characterize as systemic corruption among establishment figures, while simultaneously clearing Trump of any association with Epstein’s criminal activities.

The anticipated document release represents the latest chapter in the extensive Epstein saga, following his 2019 death while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. Legal experts caution that the unsealed materials may contain both previously known information and new details about the scope of Epstein’s operations and associations, though the specific contents remain subject to judicial review and redaction protocols.

The United States has formally authorized a significant foreign military sale to NATO allies valued at approximately $136.1 million. The approval, granted by the Trump administration on Thursday, will facilitate the extension of service life for Stinger missile systems operated by key European partners.

According to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), the transaction responds to a formal request from the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA). The procurement package includes essential components such as booster pellets, flight motors, gas generator cartridges, and Stinger warhead sections. Additionally, the sale encompasses comprehensive technical support services provided by both US government experts and defense contractors.

The initiative falls under NSPA’s management of the Stinger Service Life Extension Program, which it administers on behalf of three NATO members: Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands. As NATO’s primary organization for multinational defense acquisition and sustainment, NSPA coordinates these critical modernization efforts across alliance members.

Raytheon, the American defense corporation that manufactures the Stinger system, describes it as a lightweight, self-contained air defense platform capable of rapid deployment by ground forces. The portable surface-to-air missile system has been a cornerstone of NATO’s air defense capabilities for decades.

The DSCA emphasized that this proposed arms transfer would directly support mutual US and NATO defense objectives by enhancing alliance readiness and strengthening collective air defense capabilities. The agency further noted that the recipient nations would encounter no logistical challenges integrating these upgraded components into their existing military infrastructure.

In a significant legislative showdown, the US House of Representatives has defeated two Democratic-sponsored resolutions aimed at restricting President Donald Trump’s authority to conduct military operations against Venezuela and drug cartels in the Western Hemisphere. The Wednesday vote saw Republicans successfully block the war powers measures that would have required congressional authorization before continuing anti-cartel operations or initiating attacks against Venezuela.

The legislative action comes amid escalating tensions between the Trump administration and the Venezuelan government, with US military operations already resulting in the destruction of 26 vessels allegedly transporting narcotics and the deaths of at least 99 individuals, including a recent attack on Wednesday. Congressional Democrats have raised concerns about the legal basis and scope of these operations.

Representative Gregory Meeks, the leading Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, asserted that the administration’s aggressive posture stems from economic interests rather than national security concerns. “The president is coveting Venezuelan oil,” Meeks stated during the debate.

The political dynamics extended beyond Capitol Hill, with Senate Majority Leader John Thune commenting that he would not oppose regime change in Venezuela if that were the administration’s position, though he noted uncertainty about whether this had been officially stated.

Simultaneously, diplomatic channels showed Venezuela strengthening international alliances. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held discussions with Venezuelan counterpart Yvan Gil, who detailed the current situation in his country. Gil emphasized Venezuela’s determination to protect its sovereignty and independence.

Minister Wang expressed China’s firm opposition to “unilateral bullying” and support for nations defending their sovereignty, highlighting the strategic partnership between China and Venezuela. “China believes the international community understands and supports Venezuela’s position in safeguarding its legitimate rights and interests,” Wang stated, signaling continued diplomatic backing from Beijing amid growing pressure from Washington.

In response to a tragic shooting incident at Brown University that resulted in multiple casualties, the Trump administration has implemented an immediate suspension of the Diversity Visa Lottery program. The decisive action comes after authorities identified Claudio Neves Valente, a 48-year-old Portuguese national, as the prime suspect in both the university shooting and the separate killing of an MIT professor.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the program’s suspension under presidential directive, stating the suspect ‘should never have been allowed in our country.’ Valente had originally entered the United States through the diversity lottery system in 2017 and subsequently obtained permanent residency.

The DV-1 program, which annually allocates up to 50,000 visas through randomized selection from countries with historically low immigration rates to the U.S., faces renewed scrutiny following this incident. Secretary Noem referenced previous security concerns, noting that the 2017 New York truck attack perpetrator had similarly entered through the program.

Law enforcement officials concluded a six-day multistate manhunt when Valente was discovered deceased in a New Hampshire storage facility from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Investigators connected Valente to both crimes through vehicular evidence, CCTV footage, and witness accounts. Authorities recovered two firearms and a satchel at the scene.

The tragic events began on December 13th when a gunman opened fire in Brown University’s engineering building during final examinations, resulting in two student fatalities and nine injuries. Just two days later, Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor Nuno Loureiro was fatally shot at his Brookline residence. Police confirmed both men had attended the same Portuguese university in the late 1990s, though no motive has been established for either attack.