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Karoline Leavitt Boasts Trump Wouldn’t Hesitate to Arrest SCOTUS Justices

The White House press secretary said “anyone who is breaking the law or obstructing federal law enforcement officials” is subject to prosecution.

By Corbin Bolies

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt suggested the Trump administration would consider arresting high-ranking judges—including Supreme Court justices—at a press briefing Monday.

“As you guys look at other judges, would you ever arrest somebody higher up on the judicial food chain, like a federal judge or even a Supreme Court justice?” Fox News reporter Peter Doocy asked.

Leavitt said no judge is safe from the administration’s crackdown on the judiciary.

“Anyone who is breaking the law or obstructing federal law enforcement officials is putting themselves at risk of being prosecuted, absolutely,” she said.

Attorney General Pam Bondi has warned judges that the administration will come for them if they break the law.
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But, calling the question a “hypothetical,” Leavitt said it was ultimately up to the Department of Justice to make calls on which judges to go after.

“I’d refer you to the DOJ for individuals they are looking at,” she added.

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 04: U.S. President Donald Trump (L) greets Chief Justice of the United States John G. Roberts, Jr as he arrives to deliver an address to a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol on March 04, 2025 in Washington, DC. President Trump was expected to address Congress on his early achievements of his presidency and his upcoming legislative agenda. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

President Donald Trump greets Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts as he arrives to deliver an address to a joint session of Congress in March.

Win McNamee/Getty

The exchange comes days after the FBI arrested a Wisconsin circuit court judge, Hannah Dugan, for allegedly obstructing its agents from arresting an undocumented migrant in her courtroom.

Leavitt fielded questions about the arrest at the briefing Monday.

“Let’s be clear what this judge did,” Leavitt said. “She obstructed federal law enforcement who were looking for an illegal alien in her courthouse. She showed that illegal alien the door to evade law enforcement officials. That is a clear-cut case of obstruction.”

FBI Director Kash Patel posted a picture on X of Judge Hannah Dugan, the Milwaukee County Circuit judge who was arrested by the FBI on Friday, April 25, 2025.

FBI Director Kash Patel posted a picture on X of Judge Hannah Dugan, the Milwaukee County Circuit judge who was arrested by the FBI on April 25.

FBI Director Kash Patel/X

Attorney General Pam Bondi said last week the administration was open to pursuing judges whom it believed were stymying its policy goals.

“We will prosecute you,” she told Fox News. “We will find you.”

(From L-R) US Associate Supreme Court Justices Samuel Alito, Jr., Clarence Thomas and Brett Kavanaugh and U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts look on during inauguration ceremonies in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. Donald Trump takes office for his second term as the 47th president of the United States. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla / POOL / AFP) (Photo by CHIP SOMODEVILLA/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

From the left: Associate Supreme Court Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, and Brett Kavanaugh alongside Chief Justice John Roberts (right) at President Donald Trump's second inauguration.

Chip Somodevilla/Getty

Leavitt’s comments also come two days after President Donald Trump attacked judges who he said are holding up his efforts to combat illegal immigration after a series of judicial rulings blocked his pushes to end federal funding for sanctuary cities and to require proof of citizenship to vote.

“We need Courageous JUSTICE in our Country,” the president wrote. “If the Courts don’t allow what we have been allowed to do for 250 years, America can no longer be the same.”

Judges across the country are fighting back, however, particularly on immigration, where the president’s agenda has faced the most judicial pushback.

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 30: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) In this handout provided by the Collection of the Supreme Court of the United States, (L-R) Associate Justices Amy Coney Barrett, Sonia Sotomayor, Ketanji Brown Jackson, and Elena Kagan pose at a courtesy visit in the Justices Conference Room prior to the investiture ceremony of Associate Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson September 30, 2022 in Washington, DC. On June 30, 2022, Justice Jackson took the oaths of office to become the 104th Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. (Photo by Collection of the Supreme Court of the United States via Getty Images)

From the left: Associate Supreme Court Justices Amy Coney Barrett, Sonia Sotomayor, Ketanji Brown Jackson, and Elena Kagan.

Collection of the Supreme Court of the United States

Judge James Boasberg threatened earlier this month to hold Trump officials in contempt after the White House disregarded his March order to return Venezuelan migrants on flights bound for El Salvador back to the United States. The administration claimed his order did not apply to flights flying over international waters.

Following Boasberg’s March orders, Trump called for his impeachment: “This judge, like many of the Crooked Judges’ I am forced to appear before, should be IMPEACHED!!!” he wrote on Truth Social.

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Corbin Bolies
Corbin BoliesMedia Reporter

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