Whistleblower Alleges Politics Drove Trump Administration Antisemitism Probes

A former Department of Justice (DOJ) attorney, Haley Van Erem, alleged that politics drove the Trump administration's antisemitism probes against Ivy League schools.

Van Erem's whistleblower complaint, made public on Tuesday by Democratic U.S. Representative Jamie Raskin, claims the investigations lacked evidence and had predetermined outcomes. The complaint, sent to the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee, states that investigations by a Trump administration task force into alleged antisemitism were marked by extraordinary procedural irregularities, predetermined outcomes without factual or legal support, and disregard for specific legal requirements and free speech rights.

Van Erem and colleagues suggested opening probes into allegations of anti-Muslim bias on university campuses, but these proposals were not pursued by leadership. Protesters, including some Jewish groups, argue that opposing Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories is not antisemitic. The complaint alleges that senior DOJ and Department of Health and Human Services officials departed from longstanding investigative practices designed to ensure due process, accuracy and legal compliance.

It states that for some investigations, there was little to no factual predicate justifying opening them. When Van Erem and her colleagues raised concerns, they were sometimes admonished and their concerns disregarded. Van Erem left the Justice Department in May 2025, unwilling to participate in politically motivated investigations unsupported by facts and contrary to law. A DOJ spokesperson stated that Van Erem did not work on university investigations and that the department stands behind the integrity of these investigations.