"There was a mass exodus of lawyers earlier this year after political appointees removed career managers, detailed employees to menial work, unilaterally dropped cases, and made it clear the division's focus would be enforcing Donald Trump's priorities. By 1 May of this year, the department had lost about 70% of its attorneys a staggering number. The letter was released on Tuesday to commemorate the 68th anniversary of the founding of the civil rights division."
"Harmeet Dhillon, a Trump ally who leads the civil rights division, has cheered the departures of career employees, describing them as activists who did not want to do the work that was asked of them. That could not be further from the truth. We left because this Administration turned the Division's core mission upside down, largely abandoning its duty to protect civil rights, the letter says."
"The letter goes on to detail how the division has abandoned civil rights enforcement, including dismissing key cases involving voting rights, sexual abuse of unaccompanied migrant children, and multiple consent decrees involving police departments across the country. Dhillon also encouraged lawyers to leave and accept a paid leave offer and threatened to lay employees off if they did not, the letter says."
More than 200 former Civil Rights Division employees condemned political leadership and described a coordinated effort to purge career experts, prompting a mass exodus of attorneys. Political appointees removed career managers, reassigned employees to menial tasks, unilaterally dropped cases, and signaled a focus on the president's priorities. By May 1, roughly 70% of division attorneys had left. Leadership praised departures and encouraged or pressured lawyers to accept paid leave or face layoffs. Enforcement of voting rights, child sexual abuse cases, and police consent decrees was curtailed. An organization called Justice Connection provided support for departing employees.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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