Nine former US Department of Justice attorneys have alleged they were pressured to find the University of California guilty of antisemitism under the Trump administration, according to the Los Angeles Times. The lawyers, some speaking anonymously, said political appointees predetermined the outcome of the investigation into pro-Palestinian protests on UC campuses.
Jen Swedish, a former DoJ lawyer, described the probe as a “hit job” where the conclusion was set before facts were gathered. Another attorney, Ejaz Baluch, acknowledged UCLA may have violated civil rights law but said a lawsuit had “significant weaknesses”. The attorneys eventually resigned from the case.
The investigation focused on allegations of antisemitism during protests against the Gaza war. The Trump administration has targeted universities over pro-Palestinian activism, diversity initiatives, and academic freedom, including demanding a $1bn fine from UCLA and threatening to withhold $500m in grants.
In August, a federal judge blocked the administration’s funding cuts, ruling it followed a “playbook” to force ideological changes. The University of California stated it would continue acting in good faith, while the DoJ did not comment.
