US President-elect Donald Trump has announced the nomination of Harmeet K. Dhillon as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights at the Department of Justice.
Trump made the announcement via a post on Truth Social, stating, “I am pleased to nominate Harmeet K. Dhillon as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights at the US Department of Justice.”
Who is Harmeet K. Dhillon?
Born in Chandigarh, India, Harmeet Dhillon moved to the United States with her family as a child. She holds a degree from Dartmouth College and earned her law degree from the University of Virginia Law School.
Ms Dhillon’s career began with a clerkship for Hon. Paul V. Niemeyer at the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. She went on to practise law in New York, London, and the San Francisco Bay Area, focusing on federal and state commercial litigation, arbitration, and intellectual property disputes.
In 2006, she founded Dhillon Law Group Inc., a firm specialising in commercial litigation, employment law, First Amendment rights, and election law. She is also the CEO of the Centre for American Liberty, a nonprofit advocacy organisation.
A Trailblazer in Law and Advocacy
Harmeet Dhillon has gained prominence for her legal battles against big tech companies, advocating for free speech and taking on censorship cases. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she defended religious freedoms and challenged corporate policies she deemed discriminatory. Her work in election and campaign law, including compliance and ballot disputes, has also been widely recognised.
In 2016, Ms Dhillon made history as the first Indian-American to appear on stage at the Republican National Convention. She recited the Sikh prayer ‘Ardas’ at the 2024 GOP Convention, which drew racial attacks but further solidified her reputation as an advocate for religious freedom and civil rights.
Political and Community Impact
Ms Dhillon, an active member of the Sikh religious community, has been a vocal defender of civil rights, particularly for minority and religious groups. In 2023, she unsuccessfully ran for the position of Republican National Committee chair but continued to be a key figure in Republican politics and legal advocacy.
President-elect Trump’s nomination of Harmeet Dhillon underscores her impressive legal career and her dedication to constitutional freedoms, positioning her as a prominent Indian-American leader on the national stage.