Oops! DOJ civil rights chief accidentally reveals federal probe in social media post

The Justice Department may have revealed more than intended in a social media post Wednesday — posting a photo of a letter that tells a medical college it’s the subject of an investigation into racial discrimination.

It’s the latest apparent blunder in a string of slapstick mistakes made by Trump’s DOJ as it seeks to assert federal control over state voting policies, and to aggressively go after what it sees as anti-white discrimination.

Harmeet Dhillon, head of the Civil Rights Division, shared a photo of herself holding a pen over what appears to be a formal enforcement letter. 

“Launching a series of civil rights investigations. Another day in paradise!” Dhillon wrote accompanying the photo.

The image shows a letter, face down, signed by Dhillon. Though partially obscured and rotated, Dhillon’s photo was not enough to conceal key details — including language referencing a federal civil rights investigation under Title VI, and stating that the university is expected to “cooperate fully” with the Justice Department.

The post was made from Dhillon’s official Assistant Attorney General account. As of now, the DOJ does not appear to have formally announced any such investigation, and might not normally do so.

“Ohio State is fully compliant with all state and federal regulations and legal rulings regarding admissions,” a spokesman told Democracy Docket via email Thursday. “We’ve received the attached letter and will respond appropriately.”

The tone of the post is also noteworthy. 

By describing the launch of investigations as “another day in paradise,” Dhillon framed a federal civil rights probe more like a routine social media update than a serious legal action.

But it fits into a broader pattern. 

Dhillon has frequently used social media to publicize and comment on department activity, at times blurring the line between official legal and influencer work.

The episode comes as the DOJ continues to expand its enforcement efforts nationwide, including sloppy attempts to seize state voter rolls.

But the decision to share what appears to be an active enforcement letter — in a stylized photo and with a casual caption — raises a more immediate concern.

Whether the department is treating civil rights investigations as serious legal actions. Or as content.

This story has been updated to include a comment from Ohio State.