Harvard seeks dismissal of Trump admin's antisemitism suit

Harvard this week asked a federal judge to dismiss the Department of Justice's suit against the school over claims it did not protect Israeli and Jewish students.

The DOJ sued Harvard in March of this year, asserting that the school did not enforce its anti-harassment rules and did little to combat anti-Jewish hostility on campus. Many institutions of higher learning have faced anti-Israel, pro-Palestine demonstrations since the beginning of the Gaza War.

In its filing on Monday, Harvard affirmed that it condemns antisemitism, but argued that the DOJ had failed to state an enforceable claim in its suit, under Title VI.

"The Government does not even attempt to allege an ongoing or threatened violation of Title VI, as required, and instead seeks retrospective relief untethered to any present noncompliance—relief Title VI does not permit," the motion read.

In 2023, then-Harvard President Claudine Gay and two other university presidents faced pressure to resign over their handling of antisemitism on campus. Gay resigned in 2024.

Ben Whedon is the Chief Political Correspondent for Just the News. Follow him on X.