DOJ investigating City of Chicago over alleged race-based hiring

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has initiated an investigation into the City of Chicago for allegedly engaging in discriminatory practices based on race, which is a violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Harmeet K. Dhillon, the assistant attorney general for the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, sent a letter to Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson to inform him of the investigation.

The investigation was prompted by comments made by Mayor Johnson at the Apostolic Church of God in Woodlawn, where he highlighted the number of Black officials in his administration. Mayor Johnson responded to critics who claimed he only hires Black people by stating, “when you hire our people, we always look out for everybody else. We are the most generous people on the planet.”

During his speech, Mayor Johnson listed several top officials in his administration who are Black, including the deputy mayor of business and economic neighborhood development, the deputy mayor of infrastructure, the budget director, the commissioner of the department of planning and development, the chief operations officer, and the senior advisor.

In her letter to Mayor Johnson, Dhillon expressed concerns that hiring decisions may have been made solely on the basis of race. She emphasized that the investigation aims to determine whether the City of Chicago is engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination in its hiring practices. Dhillon also raised the question of whether similar decisions are being made for lower-level positions in the administration.

It is important to note that no conclusions have been reached at this point, and Mayor Johnson has been encouraged to cooperate with the investigation. The mayor’s office did not respond to requests for comment on the matter.

This is not the first time Mayor Johnson has made race-based comments. Following President Donald Trump’s reelection, he expressed concerns about the president being a threat to Black families in Chicago. Johnson stated that the city would protect individuals of all races despite who is in the White House.

The DOJ’s investigation into the City of Chicago’s hiring practices is ongoing, and further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses. Your tips and ideas can be sent to Greg.Wehner@Fox.com or on Twitter @GregWehner.