Trump admin accused of illegally dismantling DOJ's hate crimes unit
A former senior Justice Department official accused the Trump administration of illegally dismantling the Community Relations Service, the DOJ's only office dedicated to preventing hate crimes and community violence.
Rep. Jamie Raskin, ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, sent a scathing letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi Thursday demanding answers after receiving the protected disclosure.
The whistleblower alleged CRS leaders formally warned top DOJ brass that reducing the agency from 57 employees to one violated the Civil Rights Act, Church Arson Prevention Act, and Hate Crimes Prevention Act. The official claimed Trump's DOJ deliberately omitted warning memos from court records, requiring a federal judge to compel their release. Even then, DOJ allegedly heavily redacted the documents.
The whistleblower further contended that CRS's claimed "restoration" is theatrical, with rehired employees barred from actual work. Raskin demanded a full briefing by March 27, calling the action "systematic and unlawful" sabotage.
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