Donald Trump nominates Indian-origin lawyer Harmeet K Dhillon to top civil rights post

US President-elect Donald Trump on Monday nominated Chandigarh-born Indian-American lawyer Harmeet K Dhillon as the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights at the Department of Justice.

Informing about her nomination, Trump wrote on Truth Social: “I am pleased to nominate Harmeet K. Dhillon as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Justice.”

“Throughout her career, Harmeet has stood up consistently to protect our cherished Civil Liberties, including taking on Big Tech for censoring our Free Speech, representing Christians who were prevented from praying together during COVID, and suing corporations who use woke policies to discriminate against their workers,” he said.

Trump described her as one of the ‘top Election lawyers’ in the country.

Trump said: “Harmeet is a respected member of the Sikh religious community. In her new role at the DOJ, Harmeet will be a tireless defender of our Constitutional Rights, and will enforce our Civil Rights and Election Laws FAIRLY and FIRMLY.”

Following her nomination, Harmeet K Dhillon said: “I’m extremely honored by President Trump’s nomination to assist with our nation’s civil rights agenda. It has been my dream to be able to serve our great country, and I am so excited to be part of an incredible team of lawyers led by @PamBondi. I cannot wait to get to work!”

Dhillon, 55, has been a staunch supporter of Trump.

She had earlier served as the legal adviser to Trump’s 2020 presidential campaign.

She had recited an Adras prayer (a Sikh prayer) at the Republican National Convention.

In the January 2023 election, Dhillon, who was born in the Indian city of Chandigarh but later moved to the United States with her parents as a child, unsuccessfully challenged incumbent Ronna McDaniel as chairperson of the Republican National Committee.