{"id":160768,"date":"2025-06-05T17:22:09","date_gmt":"2025-06-05T17:22:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/160768\/"},"modified":"2025-06-05T17:22:09","modified_gmt":"2025-06-05T17:22:09","slug":"doj-tells-rhode-island-its-employment-practices-are-under-investigation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/160768\/","title":{"rendered":"DOJ tells Rhode Island its employment practices are under investigation"},"content":{"rendered":"

PROVIDENCE \u2014 The US Justice Department notified Rhode Island<\/a> on Wednesday through a letter<\/a> that it is opening an investigation into whether the state engaged in a pattern of discrimination based on race \u201cor other protected aspects\u201d of the Civil Rights Act. <\/p>\n

The letter was first sent to state Attorney General Peter Neronha from Harmeet Dhillon, assistant attorney general of the civil rights division of the Justice Department. <\/p>\n

The contents of the letter were first reported by The Public\u2019s Radio.<\/p>\n

The letter said the federal investigation is based on information that the state \u201cmay be engaged in employment practices regarding its affirmative action program governing state government employment under state law that discriminate based on race, national origin, or other protected characteristics in violation of Title VII.\u201d <\/p>\n

The investigation will look to determine \u201cwhether Rhode Island is engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination as set forth above,\u201d Dhillon wrote in the letter.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s unclear which specific policies, programs, or agencies the DOJ is investigating. A spokesperson with the DOJ could not be reached for comment.<\/p>\n

Tim Rondeau, Neronha\u2019s spokesman, said the office is still reviewing the letter, \u201cas the subjects and focus of their investigation are unclear.\u201d<\/p>\n

Neronha told The Public\u2019s Radio that he \u201cdidn\u2019t pay it a whole lot of mind.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cThey can go investigate and if the investigation turns up anything, then we will address it,\u201d Neronha told the NPR affiliate. \u201cIt could be something today, gone tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n

Governor Dan McKee\u2019s office also could not be immediately reached for comment on Thursday.<\/p>\n

In his letter, Dhillon said that Louis Whitsett, a senior trial attorney with DOJ\u2019s employment litigation section, has been assigned to the investigation.<\/p>\n

Alexa Gagosz can be reached at alexa.gagosz@globe.com<\/a>. Follow her @alexagagosz<\/a> and on Instagram @AlexaGagosz<\/a>.<\/p>\n