Harmeet Dhillon: DOJ is investigating jurisdictions that consider the offender’s race in plea deals

The DOJ is investigating jurisdictions that consider the race of the offender in sentencing and plea deals, says asst. AG Harmeet Dhillon.

“The United States Constitution bars that. Equal Protection Clause bars that…And the U.S. Supreme Court has repeatedly ruled that there are almost no instances in which it is appropriate to use race in government outcomes at all.”

She’s opened an investigation into Hennepin County for “illegal race-based discrimination."

"We have heard very troubling incidents of very lenient-on-crime plea agreements that appear to be racially motivated. And what I've also heard is that this sub rosa policy is happening in other jurisdictions as well.

…There are some dark episodes in our country, and that's what occasioned the civil rights movement. But turning that around on the other side doesn't correct the sins of the past. It simply perpetuates these wrongs against different people who don't deserve that.”