Schimel tells ‘UpFront’ Dugan prosecutors have acted ethically, followed the law

Interim U.S. Attorney Brad Schimel says federal prosecutors have acted “ethically” and “followed the law” ahead of the trial of Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan, who is accused of helping an immigrant lacking permanent legal status evade federal agents.

“This prosecution has survived the appropriate levels of getting an indictment, survived a motion to dismiss, it has so far survived those things,” Schimel said on WISN 12’s “UpFront,” which is produced in partnership with WisPolitics. “Prosecutors have done this ethically. They have followed the law. Ultimately, whether she’s violated the law is going to be up to a jury.”

Schimel said federal prosecutors have a “serious responsibility” ahead of the high-profile trial of Dugan.

“We need, as the professionals involved here, is to make sure that when the outcome does happen, whatever it is, that the public has confidence that the justice system did as it was supposed to do,” Schimel said. “We have a serious responsibility here.”

Schimel, during his first week on the job, said federal prosecutors offered a plea deal to Dugan, who has not accepted the offer ahead of the December trial.

“Her lawyers have made very clear that she maintains her innocence,” Schimel said. “But it’s irresponsible if the prosecutors and the defense attorneys don’t talk about whether there’s a possibility for some resolution short of trial.”

The FBI arrested Dugan in April, and FBI Director Kash Patel touted the arrest in a post on social media. Schimel said any deal federal prosecutors offer would be backed by Attorney General Pam Bondi and the Department of Justice.

“The public, as you know, on both sides of the political spectrum, is very animated by this case,” Schimel said. “We’re preparing here for a busy time when that trial happens.”

Dan Adams, a defense attorney not associated with the Dugan case, said while a plea deal is possible, it’s more likely the case will head to trial.

“If I were a betting man, I think it’s going to trial,” Adams told “UpFront.” “There’s just so much here.”

Dugan is scheduled for her final pretrial hearing Wednesday. Potential jurors are being asked about their news habits and any past political affiliations. The federal judge overseeing the case rejected questions about religious affiliation and any political stickers or signs they may display.

“As Brad Schimel talked about in your interview, this is a highly political case in a very swing state where there’s people all over the political spectrum,” Adams said. “You can imagine if you come to the jury box having a very strong political sentiment one way or another, where you may be thinking this case will go in your ultimate deliberation, what the parties want to do is kind of flesh those issues out, see people’s background. If they’re hyper-political one way or the other, they want to know that beforehand.

“I imagine Hannah Dugan wants people from the left side of the spectrum,” Adams added. “The government may want people who are a little more conservative.”

Jon Henkes, president and CEO of WisconsinEye, says he is asking the GOP-controlled Legislature and Dem Gov. Tony Evers to remove a matching provision in the state budget that would provide $10 million in state funding to the nonprofit network.

“To think we can raise $10 million between now and the end of June is something of a pipe dream,” Henkes told “UpFront.” “If we were to succeed in convincing lawmakers and the governor that it would be in the best interest of everybody to extract some of those dollars from under the match and feed the operating budget, it’d be a win-win for everybody.

“I’m not going to predict what leaders on the Republican side might say,” Henkes added. “But I will say this: In that building, there has been no one of a stronger supporter for WisconsinEye than Robin Vos.”

The network announced last week it will halt live coverage of legislative sessions and hearings beginning Dec. 15, along with restricting access to its archives and news programs, if it does not raise $887,000 to fund its 2026 budget.

“Nothing,” Henkes said when asked how much the organization has raised for 2026. “That’s the dire nature of this. We have made dozens of requests for funding under the messaging we’re in tough shape right now, and those requests have gone unfulfilled. So, in essence, it’s a numbers game. The more people we can get in front of to make our case, the better our chances of raising those dollars.”

Ahead of Thanksgiving, a Marquette Law School poll shows a deep partisan divide in how Americans view grocery prices.

While 82% of Independent voters and 92% of Democrats nationwide say grocery prices have gone up in the past six months, only 56% of Republicans say the same.

“The obvious thing is people go to the grocery store and they feel like they’re paying more, there’s a partisan divide there,” Charles Franklin, the poll’s director, told “UpFront.” “Twenty-one percent of Republicans said prices had actually gone down at the grocery store. Maybe we should shop where they’re shopping, but I think it also reflects how much partisanship distorts our views of things, even as close to home as grocery prices, because honestly, Republicans and Democrats aren’t shopping in dramatically different supermarkets. It’s that one group sees price increases and translates that into the political realm, the other tends to downplay it.

“Still, with over 50% of Republicans saying prices are up, this is reflecting the problem even within the Republican Party about perceptions of inflation and the economy,” Franklin added.

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