In a surprising move, the U.S. Department of Justice on Wednesday (Feb. 3) sent a notice to a federal court saying it was withdrawing an admissions discrimination lawsuit it filed only a few months ago.
In a terse notice, the DOJ described its decision as a voluntary withdrawal of the lawsuit the department filed last October after a two-year investigation.
A DOJ spokesman, who asked not to be named, told the English-language Epoch Times that the decision to withdraw the lawsuit was based on a November 2020 federal court ruling that rejected a challenge to Harvard’s admissions policies.
“The DOJ withdrew its lawsuit based on all available factual, circumstantial and legal developments, including the November 2020 ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, which rejected a challenge to Harvard’s admissions practices considering race.” The spokesperson said.
Harvard has previously been sued for allegedly discriminating against Asian applicants in admissions.
The spokesperson added, “The Department of Justice also withdrew its notice letter finding that Yale’s practices violated Title VI (of the Civil Rights Act of 1964). The Department will further review the matter through its administrative procedures. The lawsuit was withdrawn without prejudice, which means that neither the United States nor the courts have made any final decision on the matter. The Department of Justice’s underlying investigation is ongoing to ensure that Title VI (of the Civil Rights Act) is being complied with.”
In fact, the DOJ also withdrew the discrimination determination issued last October. This suggests that further action against the case, either in the court system or through DOJ administrative channels, is unlikely in the near future.
In a written statement to NBC, Yale University said, “Our admissions process has brought together an unparalleled student body at Yale College, one that is known for its academic excellence and diversity.”
The Justice Department sent a notification letter to Yale in August 2020 informing the university that the government intended to file a lawsuit. Eric Dreiband, the assistant attorney general in charge of the Civil Rights Division at the Time, said investigators found that Yale had systematically favored and illegally disadvantaged Asian-American and white applicants.
In his letter at the time, Dreiband said Yale gave substantial and often decisive favoritism to applicants of certain of its favored races, while relatively and conspicuously failing to support applicants of other races.
He said Yale’s racial discrimination imposes “undue and unlawful punishment” on Asian-American and white applicants.
On Oct. 9, 2020, the Justice Department filed a lawsuit against Yale University, alleging that its admissions policies violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
“It is time for American institutions to recognize that all people deserve to be treated with decency and respect, and that the color of their skin should not be unlawfully considered.” The Justice Department said at the time.
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