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Former DOJ lawyer alleges Trump university antisemitism probes lacked evidence

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • A former US Department of Justice attorney alleges that Trump administration probes into university antisemitism lacked evidence and had predetermined outcomes.
  • The whistleblower complaint, made public by a Democratic representative, claims investigations disregarded legal requirements and free speech rights.
  • The DOJ stated it stands by the integrity of its investigations, noting the former attorney did not work on university probes.

A former US Department of Justice attorney has alleged that investigations into university antisemitism under the Trump administration were flawed, lacking evidence and possessing predetermined outcomes. The whistleblower complaint, sent to the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee and made public by Democratic US Representative Jamie Raskin, claims these probes were "marked by extraordinary procedural irregularities, predetermined outcomes without factual or legal support, and disregard" for specific legal requirements and free speech rights.

marked by extraordinary procedural irregularities, predetermined outcomes without factual or legal support, and disregard

— Lawyers for Haley Van EremDescribing the Trump administration's probes into alleged antisemitism at universities in a whistleblower complaint.

Haley Van Erem, a former career attorney in the DOJ's civil rights division, also stated in the complaint that proposals to open probes into allegations of anti-Muslim bias on university campuses were not pursued by leadership. The complaint asserts that for some investigations, there was "little to no factual predicate justifying opening them." When concerns were raised, attorneys were sometimes admonished and their objections disregarded.

were not pursued by leadership

— Haley Van EremAlleging that proposals to investigate anti-Muslim bias on campuses were dismissed.

Republican President Donald Trump had targeted universities with probes and threats to suspend federal funding over pro-Palestinian protests related to Israel's war with Hamas. The administration alleged these protesters were antisemitic and supported extremism. However, protesters, including some Jewish groups, argue that opposing Israel's actions in Palestinian territories and its war in Gaza is not antisemitic and that advocating for Palestinian rights should not be equated with supporting extremism.

While at the DOJ, Ms. Haley Van Erem did not work on university investigations. And for all matters, the department stands behind the integrity of these investigations

— DOJ spokespersonResponding to the whistleblower complaint.

A DOJ spokesperson commented that Ms. Haley Van Erem did not work on university investigations during her time at the DOJ and that the department "stands behind the integrity of these investigations." The complaint also stated that senior DOJ and Department of Health and Human Services officials "departed from longstanding investigative practices designed to ensure due process, accuracy and legal compliance."

little to no factual predicate justifying opening them

— ComplaintRegarding the basis for some of the investigations.
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Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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