On June 4, The U.S. Department of Justice sent a letter to Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha P’19 P’22 saying it would open an investigation into whether the state “is engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination based on race or any other protected characteristic in violation of Title VII.”
According to the letter, the federal investigation “is based on information” that the state government uses affirmative action employment practices “that discriminate based on race, national origin, or other protected characteristics in violation of Title VII.”
In a June 5 press release, the DOJ wrote that the “state of Rhode Island mandates state agencies set hiring targets that are effectively race-based employment quotas,” alleging that doing so pressures “state agencies to engage in discriminatory, and potentially unlawful, hiring practices.”
Tim Rondeau, a spokesperson for Neronha, noted that “the letter is the only communication we have received,” with no direction on future steps. He added that “the subjects and focus of (the) investigation are unclear.”
Neronha told the Public’s Radio that he does not intend on responding to the letter. “They can go investigate and if the investigation turns up anything, then we will address it,” Neronha said. “It could be something today, gone tomorrow.”
Gov. Dan McKee’s office did not respond to The Herald’s request for comment.
The letter notes that the DOJ has “not reached any conclusions about the subject matter of the investigation” and intends “to consider all relevant information.”
Avani Ghosh is a contributing editor at The Herald. She previously served as a metro editor and covered city and state politics. She is a senior from Ohio studying Health and Human Biology and International and Public Affairs. She is an avid earl grey enthusiast and can be found making tea in her free time.
