Former U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman broke with the Department of Justice shortly before his firing, refusing to sign a letter criticizing New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio for restricting religious gatherings during the coronavirus pandemic, The Wall Street Journal reports.
Last week, DOJ officials wanted to send a letter knocking the mayor for issuing public health orders that placed limitations on religious gatherings during the outbreak. According to the newspaper, Berman, the Manhattan U.S. Attorney, viewed the letter as a “political stunt” and refused to sign out of concern that it would place strain on the relationship between his office and the city.
The Journal also reports that Berman “voiced strong objections to the letter, particularly its assertions that Mr. de Blasio imposed a double standard,” on Thursday. The newspaper notes that the letter was intended to be signed by Berman and Eric Dreiband, the head of the Justice Department division for civil rights, but was never sent.
Attorney General William Barr was reportedly not involved in the dispute over the letter, and it is unknown what role, if any, this may have played in Berman’s dismissal, but Barr is a well-known critic of state and local coronavirus restrictions on religious services and has pushed the department to support organizations arguing against them.
Spokespeople for the Department of Justice, the Manhattan U.S. Attorney and Dreiband either declined to comment or did not respond to the Journal’s requests.
Theodore Bunker ✉
Theodore Bunker, a Newsmax writer, has more than a decade covering news, media, and politics.
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