Democrat appointed Rhode Island Assistant Attorney General Devon Hogan Flanagan was arrested on Thursday night after refusing to leave a Newport restaurant. The Newport Police Department issued a brief statement following her arrest.
On Aug 14, 2025 at about 2151 hours, Officers responded to 24 Bannister’s Wharf for patron’s refusing to leave. An investigation was initiated by officers and subsequently 2 individuals were arrested. Devon Hogan was charged with Willful Trespass and given a District Court Summons to appear in court. Veronica Hannan was charged with Willful Trespass, Disorderly Conduct and Resisting Arrest and was brought to court for arraignment.
Unfortunately for Hogan, the incident was caught on camera, and her repeated cries of “I’m an AG” can be heard throughout the recording. During the arrest, she repeated the phrase at least ten times.
Hogan told the officer, “If people ask you to turn off the body cam, you have to turn it off. And that’s your protocol.”
With a smarmy smile on her face, her friend (presumably Veronica Hannah) pointed to Hogan with her thumb and said, “She’s a f***ing lawyer. So she knows.”
Unfazed, the officer replied, “Well, that’s bullsh** lawyer stuff, so that’s not true. So we’ve got to go.”
“It is. That’s the law,” the friend insisted.
Meanwhile, Hogan continued to interject, “I’m an AG. I’m an AG.”
Unimpressed, the officer shot back, “Good for you. I don’t give a sh**. Let’s go.”
As Hogan was being handcuffed, she uttered the phrase three more times.
As she was led to the squad car, Hogan continued with her mantra. “I’m an AG. Let me tell you something. You’re arresting an AG. … You’re putting me in handcuffs and you’re mirandizing — not mirandizing me.”
This has to be one of the most embarrassing “do you know who I am?” moments I’ve ever seen.
In a separate video, as she was placed inside the police car, Hogan warned the officer, “You’re gonna regret this. You’re gonna regret it. I’m an A —,” as the door slammed.
Professor Jacobson, who knows a thing or two about politics in the Ocean State, responded to the video.
What’s most amazing is that they knew they were being videotaped and tried to pull the “I’m an AG” and “she’s a lawyer” cards anyway. You need to understand that this is Rhode Island, they had every expectation it would work. That’s the real scandal.
Although the exact reason Hogan and Hannan were asked to leave the restaurant remains unclear, WPRI 12 News shared the following account from a woman who claimed to have witnessed the arrest on their social media page.
I was there when this occurred and they 1000% were resisting arrest. The “assistant attorney general” was in the backseat of the police car and was trying to kick out the back window. The other girl was getting handcuffed and then slipped out of the handcuffs and started attacking the police officers they legit threw her on the top of the police car hood (totally justified) I really felt sorry for their husband/boyfriend they were trying to stop these girls but they were completely out of control. Alcohol wasn’t a good look on them last night and I’m sure they hated themselves this morning. Now they gotta deal with the consequences.
One commenter asked Grok why the women refused to leave the restaurant.
Another X user asked Grok for more information on the incident and Grok replied that the women’s behavior suggests “potential entitlement or misjudgment.” I’ll say it does.
The arrest of Devon Flanagan, a Rhode Island Assistant Attorney General, on August 14, 2025, at the Clarke Cooke House restaurant for willful trespass highlights a rare instance of a legal official facing charges, with bodycam footage revealing her saying “You’re going to regret this,” suggesting potential entitlement or misjudgment, as reported by turnto10.com on August 19, 2025.The incident coincides with a 2021 American Psychological Association study showing Democrats report higher anxiety and depression rates (e.g., 20.84% vs. 10.26% for anxiety among Democrats vs. Republicans), raising questions about whether political stress or personal behavior influenced her actions, though no direct link is proven.Newport’s Bannister’s Wharf, a historic site linked to figures like Oliver Hazard Perry and Ted Turner, adds an ironic twist, as its upscale reputation contrasts with the disorderly conduct charges against Flanagan and her companion Veronica Hannan, per the Newport Police Department press release.
As Professor Jacobson mentioned above, in a deep blue state like Rhode Island, the women had every expectation that “pulling the AG card” would work. Frankly, I’m surprised it didn’t.
I’m sure the women were too.
Elizabeth writes commentary for Legal Insurrection and The Washington Examiner. She is an academy fellow at The Heritage Foundation. Please follow Elizabeth on X or LinkedIn.
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