Department of Justice Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon warned jurisdictions considering reparations packages that approving them would violate the law.
Dhillon told Newsmax on Monday that a reparations package being considered by Buncombe County, North Carolina, would violate federal law if approved. The $2.9 million package was scheduled for a vote on Tuesday.
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“I grew up in rural North Carolina,” Dhillon told Carl Higbie FRONTLINE. “In the 1970s, there were definitely the vestiges of discrimination there. I saw it with my own two eyes. It’s 50 years later now, and this is totally ridiculous and tone deaf. And so we’re going to put a stop to it here. And by the way, every other city and county trying to be cute and pass rules like this, you’re on notice that we’ll come after you too.”
She argued that the proposal contained “38 different ways in which they intend to violate the federal civil rights laws.”
“Under our federal civil rights laws, it’s 2025 here in America. This is all illegal,” Dhillon said. “It will cause litigation, and it will cause damages to be paid by this particular jurisdiction if they decide to proceed.”
“We have an absolute mandate from this president and from the attorney general to root out DEI wherever we find it,” she concluded. “And we’re very dedicated to that.”
The reparations plan has been in the works since 2020. The final proposal from the Community Reparations Commission is slated to be presented to the Asheville City Council on Tuesday, but the Buncombe County board told the Hill that it hasn’t scheduled any action on the report.
“Our ongoing focus is on transparency and recovery from Tropical Storm Helene and its devastating effect on our community,” the spokesperson said. “Buncombe County has been and will always follow the letter of the law and will continue to comply with all federal anti-discrimination regulations.”
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Dhillon’s letter to the board last week cited public reporting that the board might pass reparations measures, something she warned would incur consequences.
“To the extent these recommendations are formally adopted, you are now on notice that my office stands ready to investigate and enforce violations of federal civil rights laws to the fullest extent possible,” she said.