Morning Bell: Is the Obama DOJ Committed to Race Neutral Law Enforcement?

Conn Carroll / October 01, 2010

On May 14, 2010, Department of Justice Civil Rights Division Assistant Attorney General Thomas E. Perez testified before the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights about the DOJ’s decision to completely drop charges against the New Black Panther Party and two of its members for alleged voter intimidation in violation of the 1964 Voting Rights Act. Perez was also questioned about the department’s decision to seek only narrow injunctive relief against a third defendant who wielded a billy club at the polls on Election Day 2008. After his prepared remarks, Commissioner Todd Gaziano (who is also the Director of the Center for Legal & Judicial Studies at The Heritage Foundation) asked Perez: “Do you agree that the voting rights laws should always be enforced in a race-neutral manner?” Perez responded: “Yes, sir.”

Gaziano then asked: “It would be a problem for the Civil Rights Division if any political appointee or supervising attorney expressed the view that the voting rights laws should never be enforced against blacks or other racial minorities?” Perez eventually replied: “That is not our practice. We look at facts and the law.” Finally, Gaziano pursued: “Let me ask my final question. If we uncovered strong evidence that a current supervising attorney or political appointee senior in your Division made statements that this administration will never bring a voting rights case or, to this effect, will never bring a voting rights case against blacks or other minorities, I hope that you will seriously investigate. And I hope you agree that it would be highly relevant to this investigation and that we should have access to the witnesses to such a statement.” Perez assured the Commission under oath: “If you have such a statement, bring such a statement to our attention.”

The Commission has since twice produced evidence that both supervising appointees and political appointees at the Justice Department have made clear statements that it is the policy of the Obama Justice Department not to enforce our nation’s laws in a race-neutral manner. (more…)