Jake Johnson: ‘Disgusted’ Wisconsin Governor Rips Arrest Threat From Trump Border Czar

“We now have a federal government that will threaten or arrest an elected official—or even everyday American citizens—who have broken no laws, committed no crimes, and done nothing wrong.”

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers hit back Friday after U.S. President Donald Trump’s border czar suggested the Democratic leader could be arrested for distributing guidance to state employees on what to do if confronted by federal immigration agents.

The guidance is straightforward and unremarkable, instructing state employees to “stay calm,” ask federal agents for their name and badge, contact an attorney, and decline to answer questions or provide agents access to any documents without a lawyer present.

“State employees may not grant [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] or another agent access to any such data or information absent authorization from their legal counsel pursuant to a valid judicial warrant,” the guidance reads.

In a speech addressed to Wisconsinites and the nation, Evers said that the “goal of this guidance was simple—to provide clear, consistent instructions to state employees and ensure they have a lawyer to help them comply with all federal and state laws.”

“But Republicans and their right-wing allies, including Elon Musk, lied about this guidance, spread misinformation, accused me of doing things I didn’t do or say, and fueled a fake controversy of their own creation,” Evers said.

One Republican member of the Wisconsin State Assembly on Friday morning posted an AI-generated image of Evers in handcuffs at the state capitol, with Trump standing behind him in police uniform.

“I’m used to Republicans and the right wing lying about me. It comes with the job,” Evers said Friday. “But, this time, these lies came at a cost. I haven’t broken the law. I haven’t committed a crime. And I’ve never encouraged or directed anyone to break any laws or commit any crimes.”

“But when President Trump’s hand-picked appointee, Tom Homan, was asked about me and this guidance after he apparently threatened to arrest elected officials across the country, he said, ‘Wait ’til you see what’s coming,'” the governor continued. 
“Overnight, Republican lawmakers piled on, encouraging the Trump administration to arrest me.”

Homan’s thinly veiled threat against Evers and other officials came days after FBI agents arrested Wisconsin Judge Hannah Dugan on obstruction charges alleging that she helped an undocumented immigrant evade arrest by misdirecting federal authorities. Dugan’s legal team says she is innocent and will be vindicated in court.

Evers said Friday that Homan’s threats are “chilling” and “should be of concern to every Wisconsinite and every American who cares about this country and the values we hold dear.”

“These threats represent a concerning trajectory in this country,” said Evers. “We now have a federal government that will threaten or arrest an elected official—or even everyday American citizens—who have broken no laws, committed no crimes, and done nothing wrong.”

“And as disgusted as I am about the continued actions of the Trump administration, I am not afraid,” he added. “I have never once been discouraged from doing the right thing, and I will not start today.”

Watch Evers’ remarks in full:

The Wisconsin governor’s full address is transcribed below:

Good morning, Wisconsin. Governor Tony Evers here.

I’m speaking to you today as your governor but also as a concerned American.

Yesterday, a Trump administration official, in not so many words, apparently threatened to arrest me for distributing guidance that asked state agency employees to consult with an attorney if federal agents show up at state buildings with legal documents.

The goal of this guidance was simple—to provide clear, consistent instructions to state employees and ensure they have a lawyer to help them comply with all federal and state laws. Nothing more, nothing less.

But Republicans and their right-wing allies, including Elon Musk, lied about this guidance, spread misinformation, accused me of doing things I didn’t do or say, and fueled a fake controversy of their own creation.

Now, I’m used to Republicans and the right wing lying about me. It comes with the job. But, this time, these lies came at a cost. I haven’t broken the law. I haven’t committed a crime. And I’ve never encouraged or directed anyone to break any laws or commit any crimes.

But when President Trump’s hand-picked appointee, Tom Homan, was asked about me and this guidance after he apparently threatened to arrest elected officials across the country, he said, “Wait ’til you see what’s coming.” Overnight, Republican lawmakers piled on, encouraging the Trump administration to arrest me.

Chilling threats like this should be of concern to every Wisconsinite and every American who cares about this country and the values we hold dear.

We live in the United States of America, folks. We are a country of laws. The rule of law matters. Following the law matters.

In this country, the federal government doesn’t get to abuse its power to threaten everyday Americans. In this country, the federal government doesn’t get to arrest American citizens who have not committed a crime. In this country, we don’t threaten to persecute people just because they belong to a different political party.

These threats represent a concerning trajectory in this country. We now have a federal government that will threaten or arrest an elected official—or even everyday American citizens—who have broken no laws, committed no crimes, and done nothing wrong.

And as disgusted as I am about the continued actions of the Trump administration, I am not afraid. I have never once been discouraged from doing the right thing, and I will not start today.

I swore an oath when I took this office to support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the state of Wisconsin and to faithfully discharge the duties of this office to the best of my ability. I will never waver from that promise.

I hope and pray every elected and appointed official in this country, including the president of the United States of America, will do the same.

Forward, and for Wisconsin, always.

Thank you.

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First published in Common Dreams. Licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.

Jake Johnson is a senior editor and staff writer for Common Dreams.