Header Image: Judge Erica Hughes
Fox News
HOUSTON – A federally appointed judge is speaking out after receiving what she calls “a threatening and harassing” letter from a Houston attorney who has now been terminated because of it.
“I was shocked and surprised to receive that letter,” Judge Hughes explains.
The letter sent from Houston Attorney Ben Aderholt to Immigration Judge Erica Hughes begins by addressing the judge by her first name, and immediately asks “Who do you think you are?”
“Calling me Erica, as if we are friends or as if he knows me, started off in the wrong direction. The letter progresses and gets progressively worse,” says Judge Hughes.
In fact, the line in the letter Aderholt wrote that stings most for Judge Hughes is this, “Political animals who treat our judiciary as political games…”.
“The ‘animals’ part stands out to me, that an individual in 2024 would show such disdain for an individual they’ve never met,” says Judge Hughes.
The letter was written on Aderholt’s company letterhead. Law firm Coats-Rose tells me Aderholt “practiced poor judgment” and he has now been terminated.
Judge Hughes, a military veteran, believes lawsuits filed against several Black female judicial candidates in this election created an atmosphere for people to send the candidates such letters.
“I expect to be attacked when I serve in the military. I don’t expect to be attacked when I run for a political position in a party, in a democracy in the United States,” Judge Hughes explains.
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