Congress Must Hold DOJ Civil Rights Division Accountable for Violations

Today I take pen in hand to write and demand closer oversight on the US Department of Justice and its Civil Rights Division. The continuous violation of human and civil rights of legal and undocumented residents is entirely on the watch of Pam Bondi and the distinctly anti-civil rights head Harmeet Dhillon. We have hundreds, perhaps thousands of examples of cruelty, civil rights violations. Incompetence in law enforcement, and prosecuting crimes by police and so-called federal agents in ICE. They are in reality rent-a-cops that are complete derelict in their duties, being instead only good for terrorizing people, kidnapping, harassment and violent actions. This cannot be allowed to continue. In any normal Civil Rights Division, they would be responsible for upholding and enforcing our nation's civil rights laws, and punishing these that protect against discrimination and ensure equal opportunity. However, under the current administration and the division has horribly distorted its founding mission by abandoning longstanding enforcement principles in favor of promoting an extremist, anti-civil rights agenda. It’s truly alarming: This represents an unprecedented subversion of the division's congressional mandate that threatens to inflict severe, long-lasting harm on civil rights in this country. Rather than vigorously enforcing laws prohibiting voting discrimination, police misconduct, housing segregation, disability rights violations and other forms of systemic discrimination, the division is now reflexively dismissing its existing civil rights docket across issue areas. It has completely withdrawn from important cases protecting the rights of racial minorities, voters, and other vulnerable communities. Instead, it is improperly — close to illegally — pursuing partisan investigations aimed at undermining civil rights compliance efforts and diversity initiatives. This assault is exacerbated by a staggering 70% reduction in the division's career attorney staff, along with the removal of seasoned career officials possessing vital expertise. Political appointees now dictate warped and extremist enforcement priorities strictly adhering to the president's discriminatory executive orders and personal vendettas. I urge continuous robust congressional oversight to investigate and expose this division's dereliction of duty, ensure adherence to its statutory mandates, protect career staff from undue political interference, and uphold the civil rights of every person in this country. If they will continue their present course of action, I would urge that you demand the resignation or impeachment of the top leadership of the Department of Justice, starting with the Civil Rights Division Chief, Harmeet Dhillon. This DOJ must be held accountable. Thank you for your attention.