Judge accused of helping illegal immigrant evade ICE has $127,000 legal fees paid for by taxpayers

Taxpayers forked up $127,000 in legal fees for a Massachusetts judge accused of helping a twice-deported illegal alien evade Immigration and Customs Enforcement. 

Judge Shelley M Richmond Joseph used the public money right up until the day she was indicted on April 25, according to the Boston Herald. 

Joseph, 51, was placed on unpaid leave after she appeared in court on obstruction of justices charges. She has since appealed to have her $184,600 annual salary reinstated.

A spokesperson for Massachusetts Trial Court administration refused to give a breakdown of Joseph's legal fees to the Boston Herald. 

Joseph and trial court officer Wesley MacGregor are accused of conspiring to help Jose Medina-Perez evade the ICE agent at Newton District Court on April 2, 2018. 

The judge allegedly ordered the courtroom recording device to be turned off for 52 seconds while she and Medina-Perez's lawyer had a conversation about getting him out of the courthouse instead of handing him over to an ICE officer. 

MacGregor is accused of using his access badge to release Medina-Perez through a rear door.  

The illegal immigrant went free and was at large for several weeks, before eventually being tracked down by authorities.

Both Joseph and MacGregor have pleaded not guilty.  

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 Taxpayers forked up $127,000 in legal fees for a Massachusetts judge Shelley M Richmond Joseph, who is accused of helping an illegal immigrant evade ICE. She is pictured at a hearing on April 25

According to the Boston Herald, taxpayers also paid $2500 for MacGregor's legal fees.  

Meanwhile, Joseph first appeared in federal court in Boston on April 25. 

According to CBS, Joseph's attorney Tom Hoopes said outside courtroom: 'This prosecution is absolutely political, Shelley Joseph is absolutely innocent.' 

The American Civil Liberties Union also released a statement alleging the charges were the result of President Donald Trump's 'anti-immigrant agenda'. 

A GoFundMe campaign to help Joseph pay her legal bills has hit $60,800 in pledges.   

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District Court Judge has appealed to have her $184,600 annual salary reinstated after she was suspended without pay

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Medina-Perez (seen above), who had been deported on two prior occasions, was arrested for drug possession before he wound up in Joseph's courtroom 

Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling announced the charges against Joseph and MacGregor on April 25. 

The allegations in today's indictment involve obstruction by a sitting judge, that is intentional interference with the enforcement of federal law, and that is a crime,' Lelling said. 

'We cannot pick and choose the federal laws we follow, or use our personal views to justify violating the law.'  

Joseph and MacGregor face charges of obstruction of justice, conspiracy to obstruct justice and obstruction of a federal proceeding, according to the indictment.