DOJ investigating Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson for possible discrimination in hiring black staff

The Department of Justice is investigating progressive Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson for possible racial discrimination after he bragged about hiring black staff for key positions.

A letter sent Monday stated that the DOJ is investigating whether Johnson “made hiring decisions solely on the basis of race” in violation of Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act of 1964.

It cited remarks Johnson made at a church service Sunday about how many of his key staffers — including several deputy mayors — are black.

The mayor told parishioners at the Apostolic Church of God that he wanted to be sure he had “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.”

Johnson said he was “laying” these positions out to “ensure that our people get a chance,” according to the letter from the Justice Department.

“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,” Harmeet K. Dhillon, the assistant attorney general in the civil rights division, wrote to the mayor.

“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.

Dhillon stressed that the DoJ has “not reached any conclusions” while requesting the mayor’s cooperation.

Johnson brushed off the investigation Tuesday, saying he wouldn’t be “intimidated” by the Trump administration.

“This administration obviously demonstrated a great deal of animus and disdain toward what is sensible about our country, and that is the diversity of our country,” the mayor told CBS News Chicago. “And I’m very proud of the fact that we have one of the most, if not the most, diverse administrations in the history of Chicago.”

“It’s clear that this administration does not respect the rule of law, and it’s also clear that this administration is more interested in creating division within our country while we are being inclusive,” Johnson added.

Johnson’s office said that its 105-member staff were 34% black, 30% white, 23% are Hispanic, 7% Asian and 5% two or more races.

Johnson has served as Chicago’s mayor since 2023 after he defeated incumbent Democrat mayor Lori Lightfoot in the general election before also claiming victory in the runoff.