Whistleblower claims DOJ pressured Ivy League antisemitism probes to secure settlements

A former Justice Department attorney accuses a Trump-era task force of pressuring Ivy League universities (Harvard, Brown, Columbia) to settle antisemitism investigations, often despite little evidence of systemic violations, and even guiding interviews of Muslim professors to bolster claims. Brown faced a federal funding freeze before a termination of the probe and settled for about $50 million; Columbia agreed to an over-$200 million settlement, restoring nearly $400 million in research grants; Harvard’s case went to court and the government’s claims were challenged. The whistleblower says these actions were politically motivated, while the DOJ defends the investigations as proper. The disclosures could influence remaining probes and settlements.