Investigators from the Division of Well being and Human Companies (HHS) interviewed former Columbia College interim President Katrina Armstrong over campus antisemitism points, in keeping with a report.
The Wall Road Journal reported that investigators from HHS interviewed Armstrong on April 1 throughout a closed-door deposition following her resignation on March 28. Armstrong additionally introduced Sunday she’s taking a go away from her place on the Columbia College Irving Medical Middle, the place she was the chief government officer.
Through the deposition, Armstrong mentioned she did not find out about allegations of Jewish college students being spit on and did not know names of a number of college members who allegedly handed out pro-Hamas materials that defended the Oct. 7, 2023, assault.
Armstrong additionally mentioned she did not know college students at Columbia College had been calling for Israel’s destruction.
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Undated picture supplied by Columbia College on Aug. 16, 2024, of interim President Dr. Katrina A. Armstrong. (Jorg Meyer Pictures/Columbia College by way of AP)
Sean Keveney, appearing common counsel of HHS, wasn’t happy at Armstrong’s solutions, in keeping with parts of a transcript launched by the Wall Road Journal.
“I’m simply attempting to know how you may have such a horrible reminiscence of particular incidents of antisemitism if you’re clearly an clever physician,” Keveney mentioned.
Armstrong informed HHS officers that “It has been a really, very, very difficult yr,” in keeping with the New York Instances.
“I do not need particular recollections, sitting right here, of what’s on this report or what I recall from this report,” she added.
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Scholar protesters collect of their encampment on the Columbia College campus, April 29, 2024, in New York. (AP Photograph/Stefan Jeremiah)
Columbia College’s former interim president mentioned a number of occasions throughout the deposition that parts of the previous yr are a “blur” and mentioned she had points remembering particular particulars.
Columbia College’s board of trustees tried to separate itself from Armstrong’s testimony to HHS officers in a press release.
“Columbia College is firmly dedicated to resolving the problems raised by our federal regulators with respect to discrimination, harassment, and antisemitism,” the board mentioned. “This testimony doesn’t mirror the laborious work undertaken by the College to fight antisemitism, harassment, and discrimination and make sure the security and wellbeing of our neighborhood.”
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President Donald Trump speaks on the Nationwide Republican Congressional Committee dinner in Washington, D.C., April 8, 2025. (Reuters/Nathan Howard)
Armstrong’s testimony to HHS comes after the Trump administration in March moved to drag again over $400 million in funding to the establishment. Negotiations on restoring the funding started after the college agreed to a number of calls for, equivalent to revamping its protest insurance policies.
Fox Information Digital reached out to HHS and Columbia College for remark.
Fox Information’ Alec Schemmel contributed to this report.
