The Justice Department is weighing conspiracy and civil rights charges after violent protests erupted Monday at the University of California, Berkeley, during a Turning Point USA event, as federal investigators are also scrutinizing whether university and police officials failed to protect attendees.
The Civil Rights Division of the DOJ directed UC Berkeley Police Chief Yogananda Pittman and the university system president, James Milliken, to preserve all records related to the Monday incident, including officer communications, use-of-force reports, arrest logs, and security footage. Letters sent to both Pittman and Milliken on Tuesday by Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon cite possible violations of federal civil rights statutes and outline an expansive preservation order that could extend to both the university and Berkeley city police.
