Trump official is grilled over her boss’ bathroom habits as explosive DOJ feud is exposed
Harmeet Dhillon, head of the US Justice Department's civil rights division, has reportedly threatened to resign unless President Trump promotes her or an ally of her choosing to the role of deputy attorney general, according to a New York Times investigation. The report also details a bitter internal feud between Dhillon and Leo Terrell, a fellow Trump loyalist who leads the DOJ's Task Force to Combat Antisemitism, highlighting deep divisions within the department's leadership as Dhillon seeks career advancement following Todd Blanche's recent promotion.
The dispute has seen Terrell repeatedly complain to senior DOJ officials, including former Attorney General Pam Bondi, about alleged mistreatment by Dhillon, whom he accuses of trying to sideline him partly out of jealousy over his media appearances. The pair have reportedly not spoken since the previous summer, with tensions worsened by a disagreement over negotiations with Columbia University. In one notable episode, a member of Terrell's staff was questioned by a Dhillon-aligned official over whether Terrell had ever asked her to follow him into a bathroom to take notes, after an earlier attempt to remove her from his team was blocked when Terrell appealed directly to Trump. The Justice Department has not responded to requests for comment.
In short
- Dhillon reportedly threatens to quit unless promoted to deputy attorney general
- NYT exposes bitter feud between Dhillon and DOJ colleague Leo Terrell
- Aide questioned over odd claim amid rift; DOJ declines to comment
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
A senior official could reasonably argue that seeking promotion or a change in leadership is legitimate if she believes she can serve the department more effectively, and that internal disagreements over staffing or university negotiations are ordinary management disputes. On this account, the reported bathroom-related questioning may reflect an attempt to investigate workplace concerns, though the available account does not establish what prompted it or whether it was appropriate.
The case against
A critic could argue that reportedly threatening to resign unless given a senior post, while pressing to sideline a colleague, risks putting personal advancement ahead of the department’s work. The reported hostility and intrusive questioning of a staff member could also signal a leadership culture in which influence is used to settle personal rivalries, undermining trust and effective service.
Explained simply
The US Justice Department enforces federal laws and advises the government. Its civil rights division handles cases involving discrimination and civil rights, while a separate task force led by Leo Terrell focuses on antisemitism. Both Harmeet Dhillon and Terrell are Trump appointees, and they sit within the same department.
The deputy attorney general is the department’s second-highest-ranking official, below the attorney general. Disagreements over who holds senior jobs, and over the department’s priorities, can affect how its work is managed. Columbia University has also been a point of contention between Dhillon and Terrell.
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