The U.S. Department of Justice has opened a civil rights investigation into hiring practices at the city of Chicago in response to comments made by Mayor Brandon Johnson at a church Sunday, praising the number of and naming Black people in top positions in his administration.

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon said she authorized the probe after Mayor Brandon Johnson's comments about hiring prominent Black officials for his administration.

Mayor Brandon Johnson defended his hiring practices after the U.S. Department of Justice sent a letter notifying him they are opening an investigation into the City of Chicago.