Story perspectives

Haley Van Erem Files DOJ Antisemitism Probe Complaint

8/20/2026

Center

Whistleblower Files Complaint

Whistleblower complaint filed August 2026 alleging DOJ antisemitism investigations of Harvard, Columbia, Brown were predetermined and rushed.
DOJ spokesperson said agency stands behind investigations' integrity and that former attorney Haley Van Erem did not work on the university probes.
Columbia University settled for $220 million to restore federal funding.
The investigation relied on accelerated reviews of allegations linked to protected speech.

Left

Van Erem Complains

In August 2026, former DOJ attorney Haley Van Erem filed a complaint alleging its antisemitism investigations of Harvard, Columbia and Brown were predetermined and rushed.
Left-leaning coverage stresses that the probe was used to pressure Ivy League schools into costly settlements and grant freezes despite no legal findings.
Columbia University agreed to a $200 million settlement with the administration.
A federal judge ordered restoration of $2.6 billion in Harvard research funding.

History

Historical Context

Affirmative-action debates began with the 1978 Supreme Court Bakke ruling, which permitted limited race consideration. California voters approved Proposition 209 on November 5, 1996, banning race, sex, and ethnicity in public employment, education, and contracting; it passed with 55 % support. Courts have upheld the ban, a 2020 vote rejected its repeal (Prop 16), and UC Berkeley and UCLA saw URG enrollment drop over 60 % immediately after.

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Whistleblower Files Complaint

Whistleblower complaint filed August 2026 alleging DOJ antisemitism investigations of Harvard, Columbia, Brown were predetermined and rushed.
DOJ spokesperson said agency stands behind investigations' integrity and that former attorney Haley Van Erem did not work on the university probes.
Columbia University settled for $220 million to restore federal funding.
The investigation relied on accelerated reviews of allegations linked to protected speech.

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