Dhillon’s Exit Draws Attacks From Both Sides
On November 7, the fallout from Harmeet Dhillon’s departure from the Justice Department continued as she responded to online attacks from people on the right and criticism from a Democratic lawmaker. Dhillon announced on Wednesday that she intended to step down from her post overseeing civil rights at the Justice Department, a position she said she planned to leave after the midterm elections. Two sources said President Donald Trump had demanded her firing after watching her on “60 Minutes.”
After her departure became public, a social-media profile using the name Notre Dame College Republicans posted “Good riddance” and referred to “demon worship.” The post appeared to target Dhillon’s Sikh faith and a prayer she delivered at the 2024 Republican National Convention. The account later deleted it. Dhillon wrote that she had been constrained in what she could say while in government and was now “starting to sue people.”
Other right-wing accounts also attacked Dhillon’s faith, while former Trump administration official Michael Caputo apologized for the Notre Dame post. Judge Cory Liu condemned the racism directed at Dhillon and urged Republicans to reaffirm color blindness. Former FBI agent Kyle Seraphin criticized her record and background.
Jayapal, a Democrat, said Dhillon had undermined the Civil Rights Division through her opposition to diversity programs and actions involving states and voting. Dhillon responded by telling Jayapal to “Grow up” and defending knitting, which Jayapal had mocked in reference to Dhillon’s social media biography. Dhillon had described her tenure as a period of fighting what she called illegal DEI and protecting women’s and girls’ sports.
Dhillon’s Civil Rights Tenure Ends Amid Right-Wing Attacks
On November 7, Harmeet Dhillon’s departure from the Justice Department was accompanied by a fresh wave of attacks from right-wing accounts, including posts targeting her Sikh faith. The episode underscores the hostility faced by a public official whose tenure included opposing diversity programs and fighting states over voting, as Rep. Pramila Jayapal put it.
Dhillon announced on Wednesday that she planned to leave her Justice Department post overseeing civil rights. She said she had planned to step down after the midterms. Two sources said President Donald Trump had demanded her firing after watching her on “60 Minutes.” Dhillon praised her tenure, saying it included ending what she called illegal DEI and protecting women’s and girls’ sports.
A social-media profile using the name Notre Dame College Republicans posted “Good riddance” and referred to “demon worship,” apparently invoking Dhillon’s Sikh prayer at the 2024 Republican National Convention. The account deleted the post. Other right-wing accounts made similar attacks on her faith. Dhillon said government constraints on what she could say had ended and that she was starting to sue people.
Jayapal said Dhillon had damaged the Civil Rights Division by opposing diversity, equity and inclusion and pressuring states to restrict voters’ access. Dhillon fired back at Jayapal after the congresswoman mocked her knitting. The attacks from the right, and the dispute over Dhillon’s record, show how the meaning of civil rights remains a sharp political fault line rather than a shared standard of protection for all Americans.
Dhillon’s Exit Exposes the Right’s Intolerance for Dissent
On November 7, Harmeet Dhillon was facing attacks from right-wing accounts after leaving the Justice Department, including insults aimed at her Sikh faith. The episode is a warning about a faction that claims to defend religious freedom but turned on a conservative official over a prayer she delivered at the 2024 Republican National Convention.
Dhillon announced on Wednesday that she intended to leave her Justice Department position overseeing civil rights. She said she had planned to leave after the midterms. Two sources said President Donald Trump had demanded her firing after watching her on “60 Minutes.” Dhillon described her work as fighting illegal DEI and protecting women’s and girls’ sports.
A social-media profile using the name Notre Dame College Republicans posted “Good riddance” and referred to “demon worship,” then deleted the post. Other right-wing accounts attacked Dhillon’s faith as well. Former Trump administration official Michael Caputo apologized for the Notre Dame post, and Judge Cory Liu called for the Republican Party to recommit to color blindness. Dhillon said she was no longer constrained by her government role and was starting to sue people.
Jayapal criticized Dhillon’s opposition to diversity programs and her dealings with states over voting, then mocked her knitting. Dhillon rebuked the congresswoman. The attacks from within the right deserve scrutiny: religious liberty and equal treatment cannot mean tolerating abuse only when it targets political opponents. Dhillon’s record remains open to debate, but attacks on her faith are not a substitute for it.
Reported by Raw Story, Twitchy.
