The dean of Georgetown Law School expressed disagreement with a recent warning from the district’s leading federal prosecutor, who stated that his office would boycott hiring the school’s students due to its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. In response to this unusual demand, Dean William Treanor emphasized the institution’s autonomy safeguarded by the First Amendment, stressing that the government cannot dictate educational content or pedagogical methods.
In a written response addressed to acting U.S. Attorney Ed Martin, Treanor argued that the constitution protects Georgetown’s right to set its curriculum and instructional approaches. He criticized Martin’s threat as an overt attack on the values of Georgetown, a Jesuit and Catholic university, underscoring the university’s commitment to various faiths, cultures, and beliefs to foster a comprehensive understanding.
This clash has roots in previous political actions by Martin, who aligns himself with former President Donald Trump. Known for echoing Trump’s political beliefs, Martin has previously disrupted his office by taking disciplinary actions against attorneys involved in prosecuting individuals linked to the January 6 Capitol riots. Furthermore, he promoted debunked allegations of election fraud concerning the 2020 presidential election, having represented defendants from the Capitol riots before assuming his current position.
On March 3, an email was sent to the dean containing a letter from Martin, dated February 17, in which Martin cited a whistleblower’s report that Georgetown Law School continued to endorse DEI initiatives. He labeled the continuation of such programs as unacceptable and mentioned that his office would refrain from considering Georgetown law students for employment, internships, or fellowships until the DEI inquiry was settled.
Georgetown’s founding principles center around the importance of dialogue among diverse groups, fostering a greater understanding across intellectual, ethical, and spiritual domains. Treanor asserted that Martin’s letter undermines Georgetown’s educational mission and urged the prosecutor to reassure that students from Georgetown would receive equitable consideration for positions within his office.
On the same day, Democratic members of the Senate Judiciary Committee sought an investigation into Martin’s conduct by the Office of Disciplinary Counsel in Washington. They expressed concern over Martin’s alleged professional misconduct, stating that his actions reflect a broader pattern from President Trump and his associates to challenge the integrity of Department of Justice operations. Despite requests for comment, Martin’s office declined to address the letters concerning Georgetown and did not respond to the senators’ communication.
