Ahmed Mohamed’s former school district has sued the Texas Attorney General — defying an order to reveal details of a federal investigation related to the Muslim teen’s arrest after bringing a homemade clock to school last year.
Dozens of Democratic U.S. Congress members called for a civil rights investigation of Irving officials last September, after Ahmed was handcuffed at MacArthur High for showing his teacher the clock.
The Department of Justice launched an investigation days later, sending Irving ISD a multi-page letter that outlined accusations of harassment and “discipline of students on the basis of race, religion and national origin.”
For months, Irving ISD has been handing over records to comply with the government’s investigation — even as it has resisted requests by The Dallas Morning News to see the letter that launched it.
Among other reasons for keeping the investigation’s details secret, the district has argued that it expects to be sued, citing a demand from Ahmed’s lawyer to pay millionsor face a civil rights trial.
But the Attorney General’s office rejected those concerns this month and orderedIrving ISD to make the investigation letter public.
Instead, on Thursday the school district took the rare step of suing the state’s highest law enforcement agency — setting up a trial that could take months to resolve.
Irving ISD argues that the Attorney General’s order “is inconsistent with previous rulings … and is simply contrary to the common law understanding,” but cites no examples or other cases to support the claim.
See here for the background. It’s not often that I say this, but I’m really rooting for the AG’s office to win this lawsuit. Way to cover yourselves in glory, Irving.