The former employees of the U.S. Department of Justice warn that the Civil Rights Division is being "nearly destroyed"
More than 200 former employees who worked in the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice released an open letter on Tuesday, condemning the agency, which was originally responsible for enforcing U.S. civil rights laws, as being "nearly destroyed," and accusing political leadership of conducting a purge to drive out career experts from the team.
Earlier this year, a large number of lawyers left collectively, following politically appointed officials replacing career managers, assigning staff to trivial tasks, unilaterally dismissing cases, and clearly stating that the division's focus would be on implementing Donald Trump's policy priorities. As of May 1st this year, the department had lost about 70% of its lawyers - an extremely alarming figure. The open letter was released on Tuesday to commemorate the 68th anniversary of the establishment of the Civil Rights Division.
Harmeet Dhillon, a Trump ally and current head of the Civil Rights Division, has welcomed the departure of career employees, calling them "radicals" who were unwilling to complete the work they were asked to do. The open letter responded: "The facts are completely different. We left because this administration has reversed the core mission of the division, essentially abandoning its responsibility to protect civil rights. Because the administration does not need the expertise of career professionals, it has launched a coordinated effort to push us out."
The open letter then detailed how the division has abandoned civil rights enforcement, including the dismissal of key voting rights cases, cases involving unaccompanied immigrant children who were sexually abused, and multiple consent decrees with police departments across the country. It also pointed out that Dhillon encouraged lawyers to leave and accept a paid leave program, and threatened to lay off those who did not leave. Department of Justice officials apparently were caught off guard by the sharp increase in resignations earlier this year and quietly asked employees to reconsider their resignations.
"America deserves better," the open letter wrote. "The future of the Civil Rights Division is in danger, along with the rights it protects. We hope one day the Civil Rights Division will return to its work of justice. Until then, wherever we are, we will continue to defend these rights and the Constitution. We call on all Americans to join us. Demand that the Civil Rights Division enforce civil rights laws and uphold the justice of equal rights promised by the Constitution."
Original: toutiao.com/article/1851047731647488/
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