Trump against Harvard, behind the clash an email sent by mistake. But the government does not backward: « University makes victimization »

From our correspondent
NEW YORK – The letter that kicked off the tough clash between the Trump administration and the University of Harvard would have been sent by mistake by the White House Task Force. The letter, sent by email, contained a series of drastic requests on admissions, hires and academic programs that Harvard judged unacceptable. Hence the public refusal, at the beginning of the week, which then pushed the Trump administration to freeze over 2 billion dollars of federal funds intended for the University, to threaten the revocation of its tax status as a non -profit organization and to limit the visa to foreign students.

It all starts on Friday 11 April, when Harvard receives an official email from Sean Keveneyinterim legal councilor of the Health Department and member of the government Task Force on anti -Semitism. The document, signed by three high federal officials and with headed paper of three government agencies, contains a list of requests judged by Harvard so extreme as to push the university to stop the negotiation in progress for weeks with the Trump administration. Monday 13 April, Harvard publicly announces that he cannot accept requestsconsidering them incompatible with their academic principles. The response of the Trump Administration is immediate: the freezing of $ 2.2 billion in federal funding and threats relating to the institution’s tax exemption status.

What we didn’t know is that immediately after Harvard’s public announcement, an administration official contacted the university by claiming that the letter of 11 April should not have been sent and that he was « unauthorized », revealed the New York Times. Within the Administration, some argue that the document was « sent prematurely », others that was « intended for the internal circulation of the task force » rather than directed to university. May Mailman, Senior Policy Strategist of the White House, confirms the messbut overturns the responsibilities on Harvard: « His lawyers were wrong not to call the task force with which they had been talking for weeks, » he said accusing the university of being busy « in a victimized campaign ».

The University rejects the accusations: « The letter was signed by three high officials, written on headed paper and sent by a high official mailbox on April 11 », as « promised » by the lawyers who were carrying out the negotiation, reads a Harvard press release.

In spite of the sensational error, the fact remains that the Trump administration not only did not withdraw the letter, but has increased the pressure on the university with concrete measures, which raise concern well beyond the American academic community. «The administration seems determined to dismantle what considers the establishment, taking symbols like Harvard. It is not a question of reforming education, but of attacking ideologically alleged bulwarks of liberalism, « he says to Courier Bob Rubin, Former Bill Clinton Treasury Secretary. « They are challenging the constitution and the legal system, » he adds highlighting how These attacks represent « a wider offensive against American democratic institutions».

The Harvard case will probably end up in court, since the Trump administration would not have followed the legal procedures provided. An epilogue that strengthens the belief that The judicial system represents the last line of defense against the erosion of the democratic institutions by Trump.