WASHINGTON – On August 27, the Washington Post reported that the U.S. Attorney of the District of Columbia has convened a special grand jury to conduct a “broad” and wide-ranging investigation into D.C. public schools, students, and parents. One law enforcement official stated that this new investigation is about “safeguarding youth in the District.”

In response to reporting in the Post that “prosecutors have contacted multiple D.C. Public Schools teachers and other personnel in recent days to question them about truancy and graduation rates, and how attendance records are kept,” Joanne Lin, executive director at the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs, issued the following statement:

“Since August 2025, D.C. residents have endured an illegitimate military occupation by thousands of National Guard troops and seen the hostile takeover of the DC Metropolitan Police Department.

“D.C. juries have rejected baseless political indictments brought by the U.S. Attorney and have acquitted fellow citizens who have been maliciously prosecuted for expressing disagreement.

“DC residents have been subject to a surge of immigration arrests carried out lawlessly against people going to work and walking their kids to school.

“This latest stunt is more of the same. It has nothing to do with “safeguarding” anyone who lives in DC; it has everything to do with continuing to step on the people of DC through the abuse of executive power. As always, WLC stands with D.C. residents and communities — in defense of dc autonomy and democracy.”

Read our August 2026 newsletter here.