Chicago’s progressive mayor now facing federal probe over claims he prioritized hiring black people

Chicago’s progressive mayor is facing a federal probe for allegedly prioritizing black candidates for jobs.

Mayor Brandon Johnson has been accused of making hiring decisions ‘solely on the basis of race’, following remarks he made during an appearance at Woodlawn Church in the city’s south side on Sunday.

‘What I’m saying is when you hire our people, we always look out for everybody else,’ he told the congregation. 

‘We are the most generous people on the planet. I don’t know too many cultures that have play cousins.’ 

Johnson is under investigation by the Department of Justice for alleged violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin.

During the speech, he highlighted the black representation in his administration and specifically shouted out six top deputies who are black men and woman.

In a letter to Johnson dated Monday, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon revealed that a probe into a potential ‘pattern or practice of discrimination’ has been launched in response to his remarks.

‘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,’ the letter, which was reviewed by DailyMail.com, states.

The investigation is the latest attack by the Trump Administration on the Democrat mayor, who earlier this year was sued by the DOJ over Chicago’s sanctuary city policy for illegal migrants. 

Mayor Brandon Johnson (pictured on Sunday) is under investigation for alleged violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin

In a letter to Johnson dated Monday, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon (pictured with President Trump in September 2024) revealed the Department of Justice has launched a probe into Johnson’s hiring practices, citing his remarks at Woodlawn Church on Sunday

Johnson appeared at Woodlawn Church on Sunday alongside Bishop Byron Brazier of the Apostolic Church of God.

He has recently been making stops across the city’s south and west sides in an attempt to strengthen support from his black voter base.

During his speech, Johnson outlined his vision for Chicago, which was to ‘be the safest, most affordable, big city in America’.

‘My vision for the city moving forward, we’re gonna repopulate the West and South Sides of Chicago. We’re gonna educate our children. We’re gonna create opportunities for entrepreneurial growth,’ he told the church.

‘We’re gonna build the most affordable, safest, big city in America, and we’re gonna do it together.’ 

He also highlighted the black representation on his staff and among city contracts, specifically shouting out black-owned Bowa Construction has received a contract for a project at O’Hare International Airport.

He told the congregation that it was ‘critical’ for other black-owned construction firms to ‘know that there is a mayor who sees them’.

But his remarks have now put him in the center of a federal investigation, with the DOJ alleging that he demonstrated a pattern of discriminatory hiring practices. 

Johnson appeared at Woodlawn Church on Sunday alongside Bishop Byron Brazier of Apostolic Church of God. He recently has been making stops across the city’s south and west sides in an attempt to strengthen support from his black voter base

During his speech, Johnson outlined his vision for Chicago, telling the Congregation that he wants Chicago to ‘be the safest, most affordable, big city in America’

‘Our investigation is based on information suggesting that you have made hiring decisions solely on the basis of race,’ Dhillon wrote in his Monday letter to Johnson.

‘In your remarks made yesterday at the Apostolic Church of God in Woodlawn, you “highlight[ed] the number of black officials in [your] administration.” You then went on to list each of these individuals, emphasizing their race,’ the letter continues.

Dhillon cited how Johnson specifically named six advisors who are black. According to the letter, Johnson said:

• ‘Business and economic neighborhood development, the deputy mayor is a black woman.’
• ‘Department of planning and development is a black woman.’ 
• ‘Infrastructure, deputy mayor is a black woman.’ 
• ‘Chief operations officer is a black man.’ 
• ‘Budget director is a black woman.’ 
• ‘Senior advisor is a black man.’

Dhillon further cited how Johnson said he was ‘laying’ these positions ‘out’ to ‘ensure that our people get a chance to grow their business’.

The assistant attorney general added that if alleged discriminatory hiring practices 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’.

DailyMail.com has approached Johnson’s office for comment. His press secretary Cassio Mendoza said Monday in a statement to The Chicago Tribune that the mayor is ‘proud to have the most diverse administration in the history of our city’.

‘Our administration reflects the diversity and values of Chicago. Unfortunately, the current federal administration does not reflect either,’ she added.

The probe comes just months after Attorney General Pam Bondi (pictured at the White House on May 1) announced she was suing the state of Illinois and the city of Chicago over their liberal sanctuary city policies

The probe comes just months after Attorney General Pam Bondi announced she was suing the state of Illinois and the city of Chicago over their liberal sanctuary city policies.

Bondi, 59, argued in the February filing that Chicago’s sanctuary laws ‘interfere’ with Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s ability to arrest and deport illegal migrants.

The lawsuit alleged that Illinois and Chicago officials engaged in an ‘intentional effort to obstruct the Federal Government’s enforcement of federal immigration law and to impede consultation and communication between federal, state, and local law enforcement officials that is necessary for federal officials to carry out federal immigration law and keep Americans safe.’ 

President Donald Trump, at the time, said Bondi was ‘going to restore fair, equal and impartial justice and restore the constitutional rule of law in America’.

Bondi was part of Trump’s defense team in his first impeachment trial. Before that she served as Attorney General of Florida.