By Fatma Younis
Harmeet Dhillon, a close ally of Donald Trump who led the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, resigned Thursday, becoming the first senior administration official to depart after Republicans suffered heavy losses in this week's midterm elections.
Attorney General Announces Departure
Attorney General Todd Blanche confirmed the resignation, stating that Dhillon "has defended the civil liberties of every American and enforced the law without fear or favor." He added that the department is grateful for her dedicated public service and wished her success in future endeavors.
Tenure Marked by Policy Shifts
During her 18 months at the helm, Dhillon steered the division away from longstanding priorities such as police oversight and combating racial discrimination, aligning the unit with the administration's conservative agenda.
Developing Story
The resignation comes as the White House assesses the fallout from the midterm defeats, with further personnel changes possible in the coming days.
