Harvard subpoenaed over antisemitism probe
Harvard University Leadership Subpoenaed in Antisemitism Investigation
Multiple members of Harvard University leadership were subpoenaed Friday morning as the House investigates the school’s response to antisemitism on campus.
House Education and Workforce Committee Chairwoman Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) subpoenaed Harvard Corporation senior fellow Penny Pritzker, interim President Dr. Alan Garber, and Harvard Management Company CEO N.P. Narvekar in an effort to obtain “priority documents” she says the school has been withholding in the inquiry.
“I am extremely disappointed in the path that Harvard has chosen to take in the Committee’s investigation. Over the course of this investigation, Harvard has touted its willingness to work with the Committee, citing the thousands of pages of documents it has produced,” Foxx said in a press release. “Harvard’s continued failure to satisfy the Committee’s requests is unacceptable.”
“I will not tolerate delay and defiance of our investigation while Harvard’s Jewish students continue to endure the firestorm of antisemitism that has engulfed its campus,” she continued. “If Harvard is truly committed to combating antisemitism, it has had every opportunity to demonstrate its commitment with actions, not words.”
The subpoenas came after Foxx fired a warning shot last week, telling school leadership a subpoena was coming if they continued refusing to produce documents requested by the committee. According to the press release, the school has handed over 2,516 pages related to the committee’s investigation, but more than 40% of those records were publicly available already. “Quality — not quantity — is the Committee’s concern,” Foxx wrote.
The committee informed Harvard of its investigation on Dec. 20 and requested related documents from the school Jan. 9, but Foxx has said the responses have been “woefully inadequate.” For the subpoenas asking each of the three members of leadership for different documents, Foxx set a deadline of March 4.
“Harvard has repeatedly failed to satisfy the Committee’s requests within a reasonable timeframe, despite being afforded several accommodations,” each of the three subpoenas began. “The limited and obfuscatory nature of the productions that Harvard has provided in the last month has made clear that it is not treating this congressional inquiry with appropriate seriousness. Given Harvard’s vast resources and the urgency with which it should be addressing the scourge of antisemitism, the evidence suggests that the school is obstructing this investigation and is willing to tolerate the proliferation of antisemitism on its campus.”
The requests for both Garber and Pritzker appear to be identical, demanding documentation and communications for “antisemitic acts” from various leadership departments dating back to Jan. 1, 2021.
The committee is also seeking documents pertaining to subsequent disciplinary actions from such acts targeting “Jews, Israelis, Israel, Zionists, or Zionism,” and similar actions taken against students who are members of those groups.
Narvekar is only being asked for meeting minutes from the Management Company between the dates of Oct. 7, 2023, and Jan. 2, 2024, while Garbar and Pritzker are also required to produce those records, as well as minutes from Harvard Corporation and Board of Overseers meetings from the same time frame.
Additional minutes and documents are being requested from the school’s Antisemitism Advisory Group.
Read the Alan Garber subpoena below:
Alan Garber Subpoena by web-producers
Read the Penny Pritzker subpoena below:
Penny Pritzker Subpoena by web-producers
Read the N.P. Narvekar subpoena below:
NP Narvekar Subpoena by web-producers
What incidents targeting the Jewish community prompted the investigation into Harvard’s response to antisemitism on campus?
Insufficient. The investigation into Harvard’s response to antisemitism on campus began after multiple reports of incidents targeting the Jewish community. The committee has been seeking documents and information to determine if the university has adequately addressed these concerns.
The decision to subpoena Harvard University leadership was not taken lightly. The House Education and Workforce Committee Chairwoman, Rep. Virginia Foxx, believes that this action is necessary to obtain the “priority documents” that the school has been withholding in the inquiry. In a press release, Foxx expressed her disappointment with Harvard’s handling of the investigation, stating that their failure to comply with the Committee’s requests is unacceptable.
Foxx emphasized the urgency of the investigation as Harvard’s Jewish students continue to face the firestorm of antisemitism on campus. She highlighted the need for Harvard to back up its commitment to combating antisemitism with actions, rather than mere words. The subpoena serves as a stern message that delay and defiance will not be tolerated in this investigation.
The decision to issue subpoenas followed a warning from Foxx last week. She had previously informed Harvard’s leadership that a subpoena would be issued if they continued to refuse to produce the requested documents. While the university did provide over 2,500 pages of documents, Foxx noted that more than 40% of those records were already publicly available. She stressed that the quality, rather than the quantity, of the documents is the Committee’s primary concern.
The committee initiated the investigation on December 20 and requested related documents from Harvard on January 9. However, the responses received thus far have been deemed insufficient. Foxx has expressed her dissatisfaction with the lack of cooperation from the university and the need for them to fully comply with the committee’s requests.
As the investigation progresses, it is crucial for Harvard University to demonstrate its commitment to combating antisemitism and providing a safe environment for its Jewish students. The outcome of this investigation will not only determine the university’s response to antisemitism but also set a precedent for other academic institutions in addressing similar concerns.
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