Attorneys from the US Department of Justice have come forward with explosive claims, alleging they were subjected to intense political pressure to find the University of California system guilty of discriminating against Jewish students and staff. According to a report in the Los Angeles Times, nine lawyers involved in the federal investigation said the push came directly from the Trump administration, with one describing the endeavour as a predetermined "hit job".
A Rush to Judgment
The investigation, launched earlier this year, focused on allegations of antisemitism that surfaced during pro-Palestinian protests across UC campuses. These demonstrations were part of a nationwide wave of student activism against the war in Gaza. However, the attorneys involved told the newspaper that the probe was rushed, with the conclusion seemingly decided before the facts were fully established. All nine lawyers eventually resigned from the case.
"The political appointees essentially determined the outcome almost before the investigation had even started," said former DoJ lawyer Jen Swedish, who worked on the case against UCLA. Another attorney, who requested anonymity, stated that while discrimination against Jewish people is a serious issue, this particular inquiry was a "hit job that actually would end up not helping anyone".
Financial Threats and Judicial Pushback
The Trump administration's crackdown on university campuses has extended beyond investigations. As part of a broader effort targeting pro-Palestinian activism and diversity initiatives, the government has sued multiple institutions and threatened to withhold vital research funding. In a stark example, the administration demanded UCLA pay a staggering $1 billion fine and adopt new policies to have over $500 million in grant funding restored.
This aggressive tactic, however, hit a significant legal roadblock last month. A federal judge blocked the administration from withholding funds and imposing fines on the UC system. In a pointed ruling, the judge stated the administration had a "playbook of initiating civil rights investigations" to cut federal funding and force universities "to change their ideological tune".
Complex Legal Ground and Ongoing Lawsuits
The situation at UCLA remains legally complex. Earlier this year, the DoJ's civil rights division concluded that UCLA had allowed antisemitic discrimination during protests. The university subsequently paid $6.5 million to settle a lawsuit from Jewish students and a professor, admitting it had "fallen short" in its response.
Former DoJ attorney Ejaz Baluch noted to the LA Times that UCLA "came the closest to having possibly broken the law," but he and others believed a federal lawsuit would have had "significant weaknesses". Another lawyer went further, labelling the UCLA investigation as "fraudulent and [a] sham".
Simultaneously, UCLA faces a separate lawsuit from pro-Palestinian protesters. They allege the university was negligent and failed to intervene when a pro-Israel group staged a violent attack on their demonstration, highlighting the fraught and contentious atmosphere on campus.
Neither the US Department of Justice nor the University of California provided immediate comment on the attorneys' allegations.
