Latest news with #Doj
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Chicago alderman slams mayor's hiring practices as 'giant leap in the wrong direction' amid DOJ probe
A Chicago alderman says the city is taking a "giant leap in the wrong direction" after the Department of Justice announced it is investigating Mayor Brandon Johnson's hiring practices. During a May 18 service at the Apostolic Church of God, Johnson responded to people who claimed he only talked about hiring Black people. "No, what I'm saying is, when you hire our people, we always look out for everybody else. We are the most generous people on the planet," he said. "I'm laying that out because when you ask, 'How do we ensure that our people get a chance to grow their business,' having people in my administration that will look out for the interests of everyone, and everyone means you have to look out for the interests of Black folks." Johnson mentioned top officials who serve in his administration and emphasized their race. One example included his deputy mayor of business and economic development, a Black woman. Doj Launches Investigation Into Blue State City Over Alleged Race-based Hiring After his remarks, Harmeet K. Dhillon, the assistant attorney general for the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division, notified Johnson his administration is being investigated to see if it utilizes discriminatory hiring practices. Read On The Fox News App "Considering these remarks, I have authorized an investigation to determine whether the City of Chicago is engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination as set forth above. If these kind of hiring decisions are being made for top-level positions in your administration, then it begs the question whether such decisions are also being made for lower-level positions," Dhillon said. Chicago Alderman Raymond Lopez told Fox News Digital he's glad the DOJ is looking into the Johnson administration's hiring practices, saying he thinks many Chicagoans have the same concern. Chicago's Mayor Johnson Is So Focused On Race He Can't See The Truth About Humanity "I am glad that they are looking into it. I think it validates the concerns that many Chicagoans have had that Brandon Johnson is a mayor, not for the entire city, but for only one demographic," Lopez said. "There are tens of thousands of individuals who work for the city of Chicago who feel as though they have been left out of promotions, left out of advancement or even left out from being hired as a whole even on the front line. And I think that needs to be looked into by the Department of Justice." Lopez said he thinks the city is taking steps in the wrong direction in the way it hires. "This is just one sad step backwards for the City of Chicago to have the mayor articulate so passionately that he prefers to hire one ethnic demographic at the expense of all others. It doesn't make sense to me how, in the 21st century, we've done so much to try to move beyond seeing each other just solely based on race, that we are now taking a giant leap in the wrong direction," he said. The alderman said there are Black Chicago residents he talks to who disagree with Johnson when it comes to hiring decisions. "Let me be 100%, 110% clear on this note. There are African Americans who don't like that statement either. There are many well-qualified leaders of departments who put blood, sweat and tears into lifting up Chicago, who now have been trivialized by his comments and are viewed through a lens of they're just here because they're Black," Lopez added. In comments made after the DOJ launched its investigation, Johnson said it came from a place of fear. "You can tell when someone is fearful is because they act out," Johnson said. "We have a president that is screaming and having tantrums right now because we have an administration that reflects the city of Chicago, but he would much rather have administrations that reflect the country club. Period." Fox News Digital reached out to Johnson for comment. Fox News' Greg Wehner contributed to this article source: Chicago alderman slams mayor's hiring practices as 'giant leap in the wrong direction' amid DOJ probe
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Cuomo says he'll raise NYC's minimum wage to $20 an hour if elected mayor
Democratic New York City mayoral candidate and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Wednesday that, if elected, he would seek to raise the city's minimum wage to $20 an hour by 2027. "The businesspeople are going to say, 'Oh, no, you can't raise the minimum wage, because that's going to slow the economy," Cuomo said at a campaign rally, addressing prospective critics of such a plan. "Baloney – not to use another word. Former Ny Gov Cuomo Holds Double-digit Lead In Nyc Mayoral Race Democratic Primary "Their pundits are going say, 'Oh, it's going be too hard to get it passed politically. The politicians are going to be afraid to get it passed," the former governor added. "Well, I tell you this, they're wrong. And you know how we know they're wrong? Because we did it before, and we're going to do it again. "We raised it to $15, the highest minimum wage in the United States," he noted, likely touting a law he signed during his second term as governor. "And what happened when we did it? The economy went up, not down. We protected small businesses with a tax credit. Read On The Fox News App "And if you had indexed that $15, you know what it would be today?" Cuomo posited. "Twenty dollars — that is the fair wage, and that's what we want. And that's what we're going to get back." A public relations firm linked to the Cuomo campaign did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. Doj Investigating Andrew Cuomo For Allegedly Lying About Covid Decisions, Source Confirms The city's minimum wage was raised twice in the past two years. In 2024, it was raised to $16 an hour from the $15 previously set in 2018, during Cuomo's governorship. This year, there was another 50-cent increase to the current $16.50 an hour. Cuomo leads a crowded Democratic primary field in his bid to become the Big Apple's mayor, and he is most closely trailed by state Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, a self-proclaimed democratic socialist. The primary will be held June article source: Cuomo says he'll raise NYC's minimum wage to $20 an hour if elected mayor
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
AOC fundraises on trying to abolish ICE amid Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration
Republicans are ripping progressive New York Democrat Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for renewing her call to abolish U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in a recent fundraising email. "I believe that ICE, an agency that was just formed in 2003 during the Patriot Act era, is a rogue agency that should not exist," Ocasio-Cortez said in a fundraising email obtained by Fox News Digital. The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), House Republicans' campaign arm, criticized the potential 2028 presidential candidate in an X post for fundraising on wanting to abolish ICE, a progressive rallying cry that rejects President Donald Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration. "House Democrat Minority Leader AOC is doubling down on their party's most extreme, unhinged agenda, while the rest of her party is bending their knee to the radical wing. At this rate, the Democrat platform in 2026 will be a fever dream of defunding the police, wide open borders, and far-left hellscapes," NRCC Spokesman Mike Marinella told Fox News Digital in a statement. Trump Border Czar Fires Back At Aoc Over Doj Probe Remarks: 'Why Doesn't She Pass Some Legislation?' "Why are you considered to be extreme?" Ocasio-Cortez asked in the fundraising email. It's a strategy often deployed by the progressive New Yorker, according to a Fox News Digital review of Ocasio-Cortez's campaign emails. Read On The Fox News App Ice Touts Record-breaking Immigration Enforcement During Trump's First 100 Days Ocasio-Cortez says she is considered "extreme" because she supports Medicare for All, champions the Green New Deal, challenges Democratic Party leadership, believes in "democratic socialism," is funded by small-dollar donations and believes ICE should "not exist." "Pathetic, yet predictable from AOC," DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told Fox News Digital. "This kind of demonization of ICE officers has led to our officers facing a 413% increase in assaults. While bottom-barrel politicians like AOC fight to protect criminal illegal aliens, our ICE officers will continue putting their lives and safety on the line to arrest murderers, kidnappers, and pedophiles that were let into our country by the Biden Administration's open border policies." "AOC, Democrat Party leader, calls for abolishing ICE," White House spokeswoman, Abigail Jackson, said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "Meanwhile, the brave men and women of ICE get dangerous criminal illegal immigrants off our streets and protect American citizens. Why does AOC want to stop that?" The potential 2028 candidate was at the forefront of the "abolish ICE" movement, a rejection of Trump's immigration policies in his first administration, during her 2018 congressional campaign when she unseated longtime Democrat incumbent Rep. Joe Crowley. While older, moderate Democrats haven't been as vocal about abolishing ICE, another young progressive, who has faced heat within his party for a plan to primary challenge older Democratic incumbents in safe blue districts who are "asleep at the wheel," DNC vice chair David Hogg, has also called to "abolish ICE." "We must acknowledge the terrifying moment that we are in right now, and that what we are hearing and seeing with our own eyes is, in fact, happening. We are watching as our neighbors, students and friends are being fired, targeted and disappeared. It is real. People we love are being targeted and harassed for being LGBTQ. Our co-workers, U.S. citizens and immigrants alike are being disappeared off the street by men in vans with no uniform," Ocasio-Cortez told a crowd in Montana on Sen. Bernie Sanders' "Fighting Oligarchy" Tour. Ocasio-Cortez has an ongoing feud with Trump's border czar, Tom Homan, as the New York congresswoman instructs her constituents how to impede ICE arrests. Ocasio-Cortez is facing a potential Department of Justice probe for a webinar she hosted in February on how to handle ICE agents. The Trump administration has led a robust crackdown on illegal immigration since returning to the White House this year. During the first 100 days of Trump's second term, ICE arrested 66,463 illegal immigrants and removed 65,682, according to ICE. The agency said three in four of those arrests of illegal immigrants involved someone accused of committing a crime. The Fox News Voter Analysis in 2024 found that 52% of voters said Trump was the better candidate to handle immigration, while just 36% said Harris. Additionally, it was a top issue for voters, with 20% saying it was the most important issue facing the country. Ocasio-Cortez, Homan and the DCCC did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's requests for comment. Fox News Digital's Alexandra Koch contributed to this report. Original article source: AOC fundraises on trying to abolish ICE amid Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Sen Mike Lee accuses Chicago mayor — who called Trump a 'monster' — of 'bragging about' violating the law
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson called President Donald Trump a "monster," and U.S. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, has accused the mayor of "bragging about" violating the law. Johnson accused the president of "animus towards women, people of color, [and] working people." "We have always known who he has been," he declared. "This is not a surprise. He's a monster, period. We have the most diverse administration in the history of Chicago, and he is threatened by that." Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment but did not receive a response by the time of publication. Doj Launches Investigation Into Blue State City Over Alleged Race-based Hiring The mayor's fiery comments come in the context of the Justice Department launching a probe into whether Chicago is engaging in race-based discrimination. Read On The Fox News App "Our investigation is based on information suggesting that you have made hiring decisions solely on the basis of race," a letter signed by Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights Division, Harmeet Dhillon declares. The letter points to comments the mayor made while speaking to Dr. Byron T. Brazier, pastor of the Apostolic Church of God. During the exchange, Johnson pointed to various roles occupied by Black individuals and said, "when you ask, how do we ensure that our people get a chance to grow their business, having people in my administration that will look out for the interest of everyone, and everyone means you have to look out for the interests of Black folks … that's how we ensure long-term sustainable growth …" Police Raid Dc Shooting Suspect Elias Rodriguez's Chicago Apartment Dhillon's message to the mayor notes that "we have not reached any conclusions about the subject matter of the investigation." "Chicago's mayor is about to find out," Sen. Mike Lee declared in a post on X. "Racial discrimination is illegal." "There's no such thing as benevolently racist hiring policies," Lee said in another post. "Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is breaking the law And bragging about it Then calling Trump a monster because his administration won't tolerate that," Lee wrote, adding, "He's about to find out." Gianno Caldwell Seeks Justice For Brother Killed In Blue City 'Enamored With Criminals' Rights': Alderman The mayor's press office also did not respond to Fox News Digital's comment request by the time of article source: Sen Mike Lee accuses Chicago mayor — who called Trump a 'monster' — of 'bragging about' violating the law
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
DOJ launches investigation into blue state city over alleged race-based hiring
The U.S. Department of Justice (Doj) is launching an investigation into the City of Chicago for allegedly engaging in a pattern of discrimination based on race, which is a violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Harmeet K. Dhillon, the assistant attorney general for the DOJ's Civil Rights Division, sent a letter to Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson on Monday to notify him that an investigation into civil rights violations was being opened. "Our investigation is based on information suggesting that you have made hiring decisions solely on the basis of race," Dhillon wrote. "In your remarks made yesterday at the Apostolic Church of God in Woodlawn, you highlight[ed] the number of Black officials in [your] administration." Johnson was a guest at the Apostolic Church of God, when he responded to critics who claim he only talks about hiring Black people. Trump Administration Targets Ivy League School, Law Journal For Racial Discrimination "No, what I'm saying is, when you hire our people, we always look out for everybody else. We are the most generous people on the planet," he said. Read On The Fox News App Johnson went on to list top officials in his administration, emphasizing their race. For example, Johnson said his deputy mayor of business and economic neighborhood development is a Black woman. Other positions filled by Black women that Johnson spoke about include the deputy mayor of infrastructure, the budget director and the commissioner of the department of planning and development. Ag Bondi Launches Investigation Into Dei Admissions Policies At Stanford, University Of California Schools Johnson also highlighted the chief operations officer and senior advisor as both being positions held by Black men. "You then said that you were 'laying' these positions 'out' to 'ensure that our people get a chance to grow their business," Dhillon wrote to Johnson. "Considering these remarks, I have authorized an investigation to determine whether the City of Chicago is engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination as set forth above. "If these kind of hiring decisions are being made for top-level positions in your administration, then it begs the question whether such decisions are also being made for lower-level positions," she added. Rump Doj Slaps Illinois, Chicago With Lawsuit Over Sanctuary Laws Dhillon stressed that no conclusions have been made on the matter, and she welcomed his assistance with the investigation. Johnson's office did not respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment on the investigation. The Chicago mayor has made race-based comments in the past. After President Donald Trump was elected to a second term, Johnson claimed during a news conference that the new president is a threat to Black families in his city. "His threat is not just towards new arrivals and undocumented families. His threats are also against Black families," Johnson said. "We're going to protect Black folks, Brown folks, Asian folks. The City of Chicago will be better, stronger and safer despite who's in the White House." Fox News' Patrick McGovern and Elizabeth Heckman contributed to this article source: DOJ launches investigation into blue state city over alleged race-based hiring
