Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon resigned
Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon resigned; Attorney General Todd Blanche said he accepted her resignation. The New York Times reported midterm legal-strategy conflicts with Justice Department leaders. Dhillon told Fox News Digital she decided to resign three weeks earlier; White House chief of staff Susie Wiles asked her to wait until after the election, she said.
More context
Harmeet Dhillon resigned Thursday as assistant attorney general for civil rights, leaving her post leading the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. Attorney General Todd Blanche said he had accepted her resignation. The New York Times, citing people familiar with the matter, reported that her departure followed conflicts with department leaders, including disagreements over legal strategy in the midterm elections. Dhillon told Fox News Digital that she had decided to leave three weeks earlier; she said White House chief of staff Susie Wiles requested that she remain in the role through the midterms. Blanche said Dhillon led the division for 18 months. NPR reported she was the first senior department official to leave since Democrats retook control of the House and Senate. During her tenure, the division shifted priorities and withdrew cases alleging racial discrimination, NPR reported that roughly 300 attorneys departed during her tenure.
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Reporting
- The New York Times — Harmeet Dhillon, Leader of Justice Department’s Civil Rights Unit, Resigns
- Fox News — Harmeet Dhillon resigns as DOJ's assistant attorney general for civil rights: sources | Fox News
- The Washington Post — Harmeet Dhillon resigns as head of Justice Dept.’s civil rights division - The Washington Post
- National Public Radio — Head of Justice Department office on Civil Rights resigns : NPR
- Newsweek — Trump Sees First Post-Midterm Resignation as Harmeet Dhillon Exits: Report - Newsweek
- Oregon Public Broadcasting — Head of Justice Department office on Civil Rights resigns - OPB
- SSBCrack — Harmeet Dhillon Resigns as Head of Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division
- A News — Head of US Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division resigns
Verifier’s note
The New York Times reports both Dhillon’s resignation and conflicts with department leaders. Fox News, The Washington Post, NPR, OPB, SSBCRACK, Newsweek, and Anews also report the resignation; Fox gives Dhillon’s account that she decided weeks earlier and was asked to delay it, which does not directly rule out the reported conflicts.