The U.S. Department of Justice sent a letter to Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s office on Monday informing him that they had investigated the city’s hiring behavior.
The letter dated Monday, accusing the City of Chicago of violating Chapter 7 Civil Rights Law of 1964 In the recruitment practice of national and local government employees.
The letter said Attorney General Pam Bondi ordered an investigation based on information, "it is recommended that you make recruitment decisions based solely on race."
The Justice Department letter was a reaction to Mayor Johnson's comments posted Sunday at the Apostle Church of God in Woodlawn. The mayor talked at the church about the number of black officials in his administration.
Here is the comment that makes the investigation motive:
"The deputy mayor is a black woman. The department of planning and development is a black woman. The deputy mayor of infrastructure is a black woman. The chief operating officer is a black man. The budget director is a black woman. The senior adviser is a black man. I am black. I am doing this. When you ask you, how do we interest everyone to make sure your business interests - everyone has your interests - your interests are your interests - your actions are your interests - your actions are your interests - your actions are your interests - guys, because that doesn't happen."
The Justice Department cites the moment in a letter from Mayor Johnson of Unity in Zhou.
“With these remarks in mind, I have authorized an investigation to determine whether the City of Chicago has discriminated from the patterns or practices proposed above,” wrote Harmeet K. Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General of the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice. “If you make these recruitment decisions at the top positions in the administration, then that raises the question whether such decisions are also made for lower positions.”
Chapter VII of the Civil Rights Act prevents employment discrimination, with significant exceptions. These include recruitment and political appointments at church – just like the Johnson senior staff he listed on Sunday.
Chicago-Kent Law School Carolyn Shapiro said: “They won’t be an employee in Chapter 7, so even if he does go out of his way to hire someone from a specific race, it won’t violate the law.”
Shapiro said the Justice Department's assumption is that since Johnson's senior staff are mostly black, it's discriminatory, and therefore a leap.
"It was a huge leap because Brandon Johnson's top representative and decision-making stance was African American, so the city discriminated against race on the basis of hiring ordinary non-policy manufacturing employees," Shapiro said.
Mayor Johnson, who had been called to Capitol Hill by conservative lawmakers, was angry at Chicago's sanctuary status. The mayor has also been a repeat target for Trump’s White House and compared President Trump’s policies to terrorists.
Mayor Johnson's team issued the statement late Monday:
"Mayor Johnson is proud to have the most diverse management in our city's history. Our administration reflects Chicago's diversity and values. Unfortunately, the current federal government has not reflected either. We are aware of the letter sent by the Department of Justice, but are waiting for the letter to be officially received. Our company consultants will review it at the time."
Later Monday, Mayor Johnson's team provided the racial composition of his 105 employees:
The Justice Department asked the mayor to reach out and continue the investigation and provide them with materials as needed.