Conservatives Spread AI-Generated Mugshots to Disparage Wisconsin Judge Arrested in Immigration Showdown
What happened: Conservative social media users are spreading AI-generated images supposedly showing jail booking photos for Wisconsin Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan, who was arrested in late April 2025 for allegedly helping an undocumented migrant evade federal immigration officers, depicting her as hysterical and unkempt.
Context: Dugan was arrested by FBI agents on April 25 and charged with two felonies for allegedly helping Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, an immigrant who re-entered the U.S. illegally in 2013 after a previous deportation, avoid arrest by immigration authorities, according to a federal complaint. Dugan had not entered a plea to those charges by May 1.
A closer look: Shortly after Dugan’s arrest, conservative social media users began sharing images that they presented as Dugan’s official mugshot, in an apparent attempt to disparage her. One image depicts Dugan in an orange prison jumpsuit, sobbing. The other shows her with a deep frown and a more heavy-set facial structure.
Conservative commentator David Harris Jr. posted the image of Dugan crying to his Facebook page with the caption: “Happy 'No one is above the law' day." Harris’ post received 4,900 reactions and 360 shares in three days.
Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones acknowledged that the orange jumpsuit photo was AI-generated, but claimed the image of Dugan frowning was authentic. Jones shared the latter on X and stated: “Who knew goblins actually existed? The mugshot of activist judge Hannah Dugan crying and wearing orange was confirmed an AI generated picture. Her actual mugshot was released this morning. Lookin’ great Hannah!” The post garnered 187,800 views and 2,900 likes in two days.
Conservative commentator Gunther Eagleman posted the frowning photo on X with the caption, “He or she?” The post received 138,900 views and 1,500 likes in three days.
Actually: NewsGuard reviewed the images on AI detection tools Hive Media and SightEngine, which determined with nearly 100 percent certainty that the photos were AI-generated.
No booking photo for Dugan has been released. A spokesperson for the Milwaukee County courthouse where Dugan serves as well as FBI spokesperson Caroline Clancy told NewsGuard in April 29 emails that the U.S. Department of Justice prohibits the release of booking photos for defendants charged with federal crimes.