House GOP Chair Rep. Elise Stefanik wrote a letter to Harvard University leaders accusing them of slow-walking their investigation into the assault of a Jewish student on campus. The incident occurred in the aftermath of attacks in Israel, where anti-Israel protesters assaulted and harassed an Israeli Harvard Business School student. Stefanik referenced documents obtained by the House Committee on Education and the Workforce showing that Harvard engaged the law firm of Jenner & Block to conduct an independent investigation of the incident. Local prosecutors are negotiating court dates with two of the Harvard students involved in the assault, but justice has been delayed, allowing an assailant to potentially graduate despite committing an antisemitic hate crime.
Stefanik criticized Harvard for failing to hold those responsible for antisemitic acts accountable, despite claims that disciplinary processes were underway. She also highlighted a faculty member who threatened a Jewish student but remains employed by the university. Stefanik expressed disappointment in Harvard’s leadership, stating that the university’s protection of individuals who hate Jews is disgraceful and undermines the institution’s reputation. She called out Harvard for choosing to side with those who target Jewish students and faculty rather than ensuring their safety, which has resulted in a decline in support and applications for the university.
In a separate letter to the law firm Jenner & Block, Holtzman Vogel demanded answers as to why the internal investigation by Harvard appeared to stall and why no disciplinary actions were taken against the students involved in the mistreatment of their client. The firm highlighted that despite video evidence of the assault and reports made to the school, the Jewish student continues to face online harassment. Defamatory posts targeting the student remain online and are easily accessible, with the Palestine Solidarity Committee maintaining the student’s photograph on its official feed and current Harvard Business School students referring to him as a “Zionist aggressor.”
The letter from Holtzman Vogel emphasized the urgency of the situation as one of the students involved in the assault was nearing graduation, yet no disciplinary action had been taken by Harvard University. The firm called for immediate action to address the wrongdoing and protect the Jewish student from further harassment. Despite the efforts by the House GOP Chair, Rep. Elise Stefanik, and Holtzman Vogel to hold Harvard accountable for its handling of the antisemitic incident on campus, the university has not responded publicly to the concerns raised. The failure of Harvard to address and rectify the situation in a timely manner raises questions about the institution’s commitment to combating antisemitism and ensuring the safety and well-being of all students on campus.
