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The Executive Branch Must Act Within Its Authority

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Published in The Galveston County Daily News May 15, 2025 Recently we have seen multiple examples of officers of our court system acting in ways that question their judicial conduct and ethics.  For example, Letitia James, the New York Attorney General, went after Donald Trump for making supposed misrepresentations of the worth of his Mar-A-Lago property while seeking a loan.  The lenders said they were happy with Trump’s collateral and that the loans were paid back on time or ahead of schedule.  Now it’s come to light that James made multiple misrepresentations about her own real estate dealings.  In one instance she signed documents stating the property she was purchasing in Virginia was her “primary residence;” something she can’t do as a New York elected official. Her “primary residence” must be in NY.   Additionally, she signed a document saying a 5-unit apartment complex she was purchasing in New York City only had four units.  In both cases James received better loan terms than she would have had she told the truth.  These misrepresentations are currently under federal grand jury criminal investigation and if proven to be true could disqualify her from continuing to serve as NY Attorney General and potentially lose her law license.    In a related matter, the New York Governor has submitted a budget to the state legislature that, if enacted, could put the NY taxpayers on the hook for up to $10 million of Jame’s legal fees.  Perhaps the saying is true, “People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones!” In another example, Hannah Dugan, a judge in Wisconsin, had a defendant in her courtroom that ICE agents wanted to apprehend.  Reportedly she diverted the agents to the Chief Judge’s office. Then she was observed spiriting the defendant and his attorney away down a private hallway, apparently attempting to avoid the defendant’s arrest.  The defendant, who was an illegal immigrant wanted for assault of numerous individuals, was subsequently apprehended and the judge was arrested for attempting to help the defendant avoid capture.      This week a federal grand jury reviewed the charges against Dugan as a check on the prosecutor’s power and determined enough probable cause existed to continue the case. The judge has been suspended from duty while the case moves forward and if found guilty, she could lose her license to practice law as well.     Interestingly, both of Minnesota’s Democrat Senators (Amy Klobuchar and Tim Smith) condemned the judge’s arrest even though what she did would land anybody else doing the same in jail. In yet another example; in April 2018 Shelley Richmond Joseph, a Massachusetts judge, was charged with helping an illegal immigrant evade ICE agents.  She was charged with conspiracy to obstruct justice, obstruction of justice, and obstructing a federal proceeding and was given a three-year suspended sentence.   In 2022 the Biden Administration dropped all the charges, ending her suspension. And in still another case, last month a New Mexico judge was arrested for harboring an unlawful immigrant who was reportedly a member of the Venezuelan TdA gang. The immigrant was arrested during a raid at the judge’s residence. Unfounded and reckless rhetoric against members of the judiciary should be criticized but it works both ways.  Members of the judiciary need to conduct themselves in a way that reinforces honor and respect.  These examples seem to be just the opposite. Nobody should be above the law.
	About the Authors and Columnists 2025 Bill Sargent and Mark Mansius have written over 300 guest columns and editorials over the last ten years for numerous publications and continue to do so. Bill lives in Galveston, Texas and Mark in St. Georges, Utah. Both Bill and Mark ran against each other in the 2012 Republican Primary for Texas Congressional District 14. Since then they have become close friends and colleagues.
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