https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/25/us/ma...ted/index.html
CNN)A Massachusetts state court judge and a former court officer who allegedly helped a twice-deported undocumented defendant elude immigration authorities were indicted Thursday on obstruction of justice and other federal charges. Newton District Court Judge Shelley Richmond Joseph, 51, and former trial court officer Wesley MacGregor, 56, face charges of conspiracy to obstruct justice, obstruction of justice, obstruction of a federal proceeding -- aiding and abetting and perjury, according to an indictment in US District Court in Boston.
"This case is about the rule of law," US Attorney Andrew Lelling said in a statement. "We cannot pick and choose the federal laws we follow, or use our personal views to justify violating the law."
Joseph and MacGregor were to appear in federal court in Boston on Thursday afternoon. It was not immediately clear whether they have legal representation.
"Everyone in the justice system -- not just judges, but law enforcement officers, prosecutors and defense counsel -- should be held to a higher standard," Lelling said. "The people of Massachusetts expect that, just like they expect judges to be fair, impartial and to follow the law themselves."
Federal prosecutors said the charges stemmed from an April 2, 2018, incident in which Richmond and MacGregor allegedly allowed an undocumented immigrant at a hearing for drug charges to escape detention by an ICE officer.
Newton Police had arrested and charged the undocumented immigrant day earlier with being a fugitive from justice and drug possession, according to the indictment. Authorities later learned he had been deported from the US in 2003 and 2007 and was prohibited from reentering the country until 2027. ICE then issued an immigration detainer and warrant of removal.
A plainclothes ICE officer was at the Newton courthouse to execute the warrant.
The court clerk was directed by Joseph to ask the ICE officer to wait in the lobby, according to court documents.
When the case was called that afternoon, a court audio recording captured Joseph, the defense attorney and the prosecutor speaking at side bar about the ICE detainer.
Joseph allegedly ordered the courtroom clerk to "go off the record for a moment." The audio recorder was turned off for 52 seconds, the indictment said.
When the recorder was turned on again, the documents said, Joseph said she intended to release the defendant.
The defense attorney asked to speak with the defendant downstairs.
"I believe he has some property downstairs," the attorney said. "I'd like to speak with him downstairs with the interpreter if I may."
Joseph responded, "That's fine. Of course," according to prosecutors.
When reminded by the clerk that an ICE officer was in the courthouse, Joseph said, "That's fine. I'm not gonna allow them to come in here. But he's been released on this."
MacGregor then allegedly escorted the defendant, his attorney and an interpreter downstairs to the lockup and used his security access card to open the rear exit and release the defendant, the indictment said.
ICE, in a 2017 report, listed Boston as a jurisdiction that limits cooperation with the immigration agency.
But the indictment cited guidance issued in November 2017, by the Executive Office of the Massachusetts Trial Court, that said "DHS officials may enter a courthouse to perform their official duties."
"Everyone in the justice system -- not just judges, but law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and defense counsel -- should be held to a higher standard," Lelling said. "The people of Massachusetts expect that, just like they expect judges to be fair, impartial and to follow the law themselves."
CNN's Eric Levenson contributed to this report.
The DPST open borders nut cases are already Screaming:
Mark Joseph SternVerified account @mjs_DC:
The Justice Department has indicted a Massachusetts judge for obstruction of justice. Her crime? The judge allegedly helped an undocumented immigrant evade arrest by ICE agents at a state courthouse. This sounds like a political prosecution.
https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/5977986/09519295965.pdf …
10:00 AM - 25 Apr 2019New conversation
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Mark Joseph SternVerified account @mjs_DC 3h3 hours ago
The Massachusetts high court has limited ICE's ability to commandeer state court officers to arrest immigrants. This indictment sounds like retaliation for Massachusetts courts' refusal to cooperate with ICE.
OP Comment.- It is a political prosecution because Stern and DPST ilk disagree with enforcement of border laws. They want open borders - which will end the Republic.
Of course, they will blame Trump for this and call it "Obstruction of justice" - Nadler and Schiff are already drooling in anticipation.
usual DPST hypocrisy.
After all the Crime and Murder caused by illegals - Stern and DPST ilk need a healthy dose of MS-13 illegals living next door to them, and let them run amok - let ICE refuse to help them when they call for protection from MS-13 hoodlums. Serve em a good dose of their own Idiot-Ideology!!!
Any DPST comments??????
Massachusetts judge charged with helping an undocumented immigrant escape an ICE officer
