{"id":2407295,"date":"2025-02-27T05:26:00","date_gmt":"2025-02-27T10:26:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/california-lawyer-harmeet-dhillon-testifies-at-assistant-ag-confirmation-hearing-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-02-27T05:27:09","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T10:27:09","slug":"california-lawyer-harmeet-dhillon-testifies-at-assistant-ag-confirmation-hearing-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/california-lawyer-harmeet-dhillon-testifies-at-assistant-ag-confirmation-hearing-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"California lawyer Harmeet Dhillon testifies at assistant AG confirmation hearing &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fcalifornia-lawyer-harmeet-dhillon-testifies-at-assistant-ag-confirmation-hearing-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2407295&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>At a \u2064recent U.S. Senate confirmation hearing, \u2062California lawyer Harmeet Dhillon, \u200dnominated by former President Donald Trump for the position of Assistant Attorney General for \u200cCivil \u200cRights, emphasized\u200c her commitment to defending vulnerable populations. Throughout the three-hour session, Dhillon&#8217;s qualifications were praised by Republican\u200d senators, while\u2064 Democrats expressed concerns regarding potential disregard for \u200dcourt orders by Trump and his nominees. Dhillon asserted that she \u2062would\u2062 respect statutes and court rulings, promising not to use the Justice Department as a political \u200ctool.<\/p>\n<p>The hearing addressed various issues, including voting rights, \u2062where Dhillon \u2063highlighted the need for \u200bstates to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/elias-group-tarnishes-watchdog-to-keep-bad-voters-on-nv-rolls\/\" title=\"Elias Group Tarnishes Watchdog To Keep Bad ...rs On NV Rolls\">maintain accurate voter\u2062 rolls<\/a> and discussed \u200bpotential legislation aimed at ensuring only citizens vote \u200bin federal elections. She also reiterated her commitment to enforcing the voting\u200d Rights Act and <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">protecting historically marginalized groups<\/a>, emphasizing her dedication to providing\u2062 equal \u200bjustice \u2062for all.<\/p>\n<p>Throughout her testimony, Dhillon reflected on her upbringing as an immigrant \u200cfrom India and her belief in the importance of free speech and protection for \u200dall individuals, \u2063irrespective of their background. Despite partisan tensions, she maintained \u200bher\u200d stance\u2063 on legal integrity and \u2063equal enforcement of the law.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">California lawyer Harmeet Dhillon testifies at assistant AG confirmation hearing<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2021784\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>(The Center Square)&nbsp;&ndash; San Francisco lawyer Harmeet Dhillon, President Donald Trump&rsquo;s nominee for assistant attorney general for civil rights, emphasized her career in defending vulnerable populations at a U.S. Senate confirmation hearing that covered everything from voting rights to U.S. history.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Questions&nbsp;fell Wednesday morning along party lines during the approximately three-hour&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.judiciary.senate.gov\/committee-activity\/hearings\/02\/26\/2025\/nominations\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Senate Judiciary Committee hearing<\/strong><\/a>, where Republicans praised Dhillon on her record and Democrats pressed her and two other Trump nominees on whether they and the president would follow court orders.<\/p>\n<p>Dhillon sat before the senators with nominees Dean John Sauer for solicitor general, the attorney who represents the U.S. government at the U.S. Supreme Court, and Aaron Reitz as the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/nathan-hochmans-vision-of-la-includes-major-course-correction\/\" title=\"Nathan Hochman&#039;s vision of LA includes major course correction\">assistant attorney general overseeing<\/a> the Office of Legal Policy.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>U.S. Sen. Dirk Durbin, D-Illinois, told the nominees that people in legal and academic professions are worried that Trump would defy court orders and put himself above the law, at least in the president&rsquo;s eyes.<\/p>\n<p>Sauer, who was Trump&rsquo;s personal lawyer for almost two years, said he doesn&rsquo;t believe that&rsquo;s a plausible scenario.<\/p>\n<p>And before Durbin and other senators commented, Dhillon made an opening statement in which she stressed she would respect statues and court rulings even if she disagreed with them.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;What I will never do is use the DOJ (Department of Justice) Civil Rights Division as a partisan tool to a push a political agenda,&rdquo; Dhillon said.<\/p>\n<p>In response to a question from the committee chair, U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, Dhillon said Attorney General Pam Bondi and Trump have made it clear they oppose diversity, equity and inclusion policies. She said the Department of Justice will be closely examining such policies &ldquo;and enforcing the law equally for all Americans.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>She added that language in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act makes it clear that &ldquo;racial discrimination is inappropriate in hiring.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Democrats on the committee pressed the nominees to guarantee court orders would be followed, but Republican senators noted there have been immoral U.S. Supreme Court decisions. They cited cases such as U.S. v. Korematsu, the 1944 ruling that allowed the internment of Japanese Americans.<\/p>\n<p>U.S. Sen. Chris Coons, D-Delaware, asked Dhillon, a former vice chair of the California Republican Party, if she would carry out illegal orders from Trump.<\/p>\n<p>Dillon, who has represented Trump as his attorney, said, &ldquo;The president has never asked me to do anything that I would find to be morally reprehensible and illegal.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, raised the issue of voting rights and said the goal should be &ldquo;to make it easier to vote and harder to cheat.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Dhillon told Blackburn the National Voter Registration Act requires states to properly maintain their voter rolls.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Many states are woefully behind in doing so,&rdquo; Dhillon said.<\/p>\n<p>Sen. Katie Britt, R-Alabama, told Dhillon she planned to reintroduce the Citizen Ballot Protection Act, which would allow states to verify that only citizens are voting in federal elections.<\/p>\n<p>Dhillon thanked Britt for backing the legislation, noting courts have banned states from requiring proof of citizenship. She said the bill would assure people that only citizens are voting and that they&rsquo;re only voting once.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It would cause more Americans to come out and vote, which all of us want on both sides of the aisle,&rdquo; she said.<\/p>\n<p>Dhillon, who was born in 1969 in Chandigarh, India, and emigrated to America with her family at age 2, said the current system has led many illegal immigrants to unknowingly cast a vote, which could later put their efforts to become citizens at risk.<\/p>\n<p>In response to questions from Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minnesota, Dhillon said she would enforce Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which protects groups that have historically faced discrimination based on religion and minority status.<\/p>\n<p>Dhillon noted she has done many pro bono cases for people who would not otherwise have a lawyer.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;In the civil rights division, there is a long and storied history of doing the same thing, of standing up for the most disadvantaged individual and ensuring equal justice for all,&rdquo; Dhillon said.<\/p>\n<p>She said her Sikh faith emphasizes respecting people of all beliefs and to protect the defenseless.<\/p>\n<p>She added she would work to protect Jewish students, who she said are currently being mistreated by professors and other students at universities because of their religion.<\/p>\n<p>Dhillon also pointed to her 2002-2005 work as a member of the board of the Northern California chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union. She said her experience at the ACLU and earlier taught her the importance of protecting free speech and the right to protest, regardless of whether she agrees with what&rsquo;s being said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2021784\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2021784\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>California lawyer Harmeet Dhillon testifies at AG hearing<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2407296,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/california-legislature-special-session-trump-proof.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[4045,46467,4742,8676],"class_list":["post-2407295","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-california","tag-harmeet-dhillon","tag-lawyer","tag-testimony"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/california-legislature-special-session-trump-proof.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2407295","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2407295"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2407295\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2407299,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2407295\/revisions\/2407299"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2407296"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2407295"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2407295"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2407295"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}