President Donald Trump’s Department of Justice announced on Monday that it is opening a civil rights investigation into Chicago to determine whether the city has engaged in “discrimination” in its hiring practices. The investigation comes after Democratic Mayor Brandon Johnson recently claimed he had the “most diverse administration.”
In a Monday letter to the Chicago mayor, Assistant Attorney General of the Civil Rights Division Harmeet Dhillon said the Justice Department’s investigation would determine whether the city “is engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination based on race in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.”
“Our investigation is based on information suggesting that you have made hiring decisions solely on the basis of race,” Dhillon added.
In Monday’s letter, Dhillon referenced comments that Johnson made at the Apostolic Church of God in Woodlawn, Illinois, on Sunday regarding several top positions in his administration. During Sunday’s interview with Pastor Dr. Byron T. Brazier, Johnson pointed to the number of black individuals he has hired for top positions in his administration.
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“What I’m saying is when you hire our people, we always look out for everybody else,” Johnson said. “We are the most generous people on the planet.”
“Business and Economic Neighborhood Development, the deputy mayor, is a black woman. Department of Planning and Development is a black woman,” the mayor added. “Infrastructure deputy mayor is a black woman. Chief Operations Officer is a black man. Budget Director is a black woman. Senior Advisor is a black man.”
According to The Daily Caller, Johnson described his administration as “the most diverse administration in the history of Chicago.” The mayor claimed that 45% of his administration is black, 30% is white, 25% is Latino, and 8% is Asian.
In reference to Johnson’s statements on Sunday, Dhillon wrote, “If these kinds of hiring decisions are being made for top-level positions in your administration, then it begs the question whether such decisions are also being made for lower-level positions.”
Following the Justice Department’s letter on Monday, Johnson’s office issued a statement obtained by ABC 7, saying, “Mayor Johnson is proud to have the most diverse administration in the history of our city. Our administration reflects the diversity and values of Chicago. Unfortunately, the current federal administration does not reflect either.”
Johnson’s office added that it was “aware” of the Justice Department’s letter but was waiting for the “official receipt of the letter” prior to a review by the city’s corporation counsel.
