Nine federal prosecutors, including at least one Jewish attorney, have resigned from the Justice Department. They claim the Trump administration mishandled its investigation into antisemitism at the University of California (UC) system. They labeled the inquiry as “fraudulent,” saying it was driven more by politics than a genuine concern for antisemitism.
Dena Robinson, a former trial attorney involved in the case, expressed doubt that the administration truly cared about the Jewish community. This skepticism reflects a growing unease within Jewish groups about the government’s approach, especially after multiple universities agreed to major changes and payments to resolve similar cases.
The UC investigation is particularly significant as it has impacted federal funding. The administration initially froze over $580 million in federal funds, which has decreased to about $230 million due to legal actions. They expected UC to agree to a substantial payout of $1.2 billion, though a federal judge recently blocked this move.
Attorneys involved in the investigation admitted there was evidence of discrimination against Jewish and Israeli students but noted that the focus on UC was disproportionate. Some felt the investigation felt more like a political attack rather than a sincere effort to address antisemitism.
According to Ron Avi Astor, a faculty member at UCLA, the administration’s funding cuts have worrying implications for critical research, emphasizing the value of academic work rather than political agendas. ProPublica reports that investigations that normally take years were being rushed under Trump, with findings of wrongdoing almost predetermined.
At UCLA, tensions heightened following the October 2023 Hamas attacks, with protests leading to clashes between pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian groups. Earlier this year, UCLA settled a lawsuit for over $6 million concerning antisemitism. However, this settlement didn’t affect the federal investigation, which still found UCLA in violation of civil rights laws for the same issues.
Overall, the ongoing situation at UC illustrates the intersection of politics and academia, raising alarms about the treatment of Jewish students and the implications of government actions on university funding and policies.
For further reading, you can visit ProPublica for a deeper dive into the topic.
