President Donald Trump on Wednesday commuted the 12-year sentence of a major political donor who was serving time for a number of offenses, including obstructing an investigation into Trumps 2017 inaugural committee, the White House confirmed with Fox News Digital.Imaad Zuberi, 54, was a major Democrat supporter before he backed Trump following his 2016 election victory, The New York Times reported. Before pivoting to Trump on election night, he served as a bundler for Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, including stints on both of their campaign finance committees.Zuberi donated more than $1.1 million to committees associated with Trump and the Republican Party months after the 2016 election, the Times reported.TRUMP 'PARDON CZAR' EXPLAINS KEY DIFFERENCES BETWEEN TRUMP AND BIDEN PARDONSThe donations secured him invitations to a pair of black-tie dinners celebrating Trumps inauguration.In 2020, he pleaded guilty to obstructing a federal investigation into the source of a $900,000 donation he made through his company to Trumps inaugural committee in late December 2016, the report states.Zuberi also pleaded guilty to falsifying records filed with the Justice Department under the Foreign Agents Registration Act to conceal his lobbying work on behalf of Sri Lanka.Zuberi allegedly directed millions of dollars from the Sri Lankan contract to himself and his wife for personal purposes, shortchanging lobbyists, public relations and law firms, and certain subcontractors who were part of the lobbying effort.MAN WHO HAD PRISON SENTENCE COMMUTED BY BIDEN NOW FACING DRUG, FIREARMS-RELATED CHARGESHis commutation was one of several on Wednesday, as well as a few pardons.Larry Hoover, who is serving time in a federal supermax prison, also had his sentence commuted. Hoover, the co-founder of the Chicago gang Gangster Disciples, was originally imprisoned for a 1973 murder and later convicted in 1998 for operating a criminal enterprise.Trump also pardoned former Connecticut Gov. John Rowland, who was convicted in two federal criminal cases, including one that contributed to his resignation.The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Karen Reads defense team looked to chip away at a crash experts credibility by pointing to eye-watering expenditures and alleged inconsistencies in experiments as the state enters the 11th hour of testimony in their case.Read is accused of killing her then-boyfriend, Boston police officer John OKeefe, by striking him with her Lexus SUV outside a house party at 34 Fairview Road and leaving him to die in frigid temperatures shortly after midnight on Jan. 29, 2022.The states expected final witness, Dr. Judson Welcher, a crash reconstructionist with Texas-based Aperture LLC, held firm on his findings that Reads vehicle allegedly struck OKeefe.KAREN READ'S SUV REACHED '74% THROTTLE' MOMENTS BEFORE JOHN O'KEEFE'S FINAL MOVEMENTS, CRASH EXPERT TESTIFIES"[OKeefes injuries are] consistent with being struck by a Lexus and also contacting a hard surface, such as frozen ground," Welcher told special prosecutor Hank Brennan.In a sometimes-evasive line of cross-examination, Welcher often provided non-answers to defense attorney Robert Alessis questions surrounding his modifications to a PowerPoint presentation used in Reads trial to depict Apertures investigation."Assume the trial started approximately April 22, 2025," Alessi said. "Did you create your updated presentation before or after [it began]?""I dont know," Welcher replied.KAREN READ TRIAL WITNESS FACES BRUTAL CROSS-EXAMINATION OVER VEHICLE DATAAlessi looked to nail down a timeline of when Welcher may have made changes to the document and whether the prosecution communicated with him regarding the alterations.Welcher eventually relented before testifying that he altered the presentation for the first time on May 13, with the most recent change occurring "like, 10 minutes ago.""Half of that was in response to objections from the defense," Welcher said. "I had to add all the parts to where everything was. Then, when I got out here, Mr. Brennan asked me to take out references to evidence about statements that I was not allowed to present. So that would have been within the last three days. Then I've modified it a couple of times today based on rulings from the judge."BRAIN SURGEON TESTIFIES JOHN O'KEEFE DIED FROM FALL ON FROZEN GROUND IN KAREN READ TRIALHowever, Welcher testified on cross-examination that the amendments he made to the presentation did not alter the overall document."I changed one slide," Welcher said. "There were 130 slides originally, or something like that. So half of the changes [were] on that day, which was one slide. I added one line to the bottom of the previous slide.""Well then, why did you make it in the middle of trial if it wasn't significant?" Alessi asked. "Why didn't you just leave it off and then discuss it in terms of testimony?"EXPERT WITNESS IN KAREN READ MURDER TRIAL CAUGHT WITH 'ERRORS' INFLATING HIS CREDENTIALS"So it ultimately was left off because it was insignificant, and I didn't need to have it," Welcher said. "The way it got presented was exactly the way it was before May 13. So it didn't change anything."On cross-examination, Welcher revealed the district attorneys office previously agreed to pay Aperture at least $325,000 for the firms services, along with covering the cost of the Lexus SUV used in testing."Were keeping [the vehicle] until the trials over," Welcher said. "[Then] were selling it and charging the commonwealth the difference in the price exactly."KAREN READ SCORES MAJOR WIN AS JUDGE ALLOWS CRASH RECONSTRUCTION TESTIMONYAperture has been paid $44,510 for its services to date, with the state expected to pay upwards of $400,000 for around eight months of work, according to Alessi."Dr. Welcher was perfect on direction, but only a B- on cross-examination," retired Massachusetts Superior Court Judge and Boston College law professor Jack Lu told Fox News Digital. "He is not answering the questions from Mr. Alessi directly.He may not be intentionally being evasive, but hes no longer a near-perfect example of how an expert witness should testify."OKeefes arm injuries were concurrent with being struck by the make and model of Reads vehicle, Welcher testified on direct examination. The crash expert pointed to a video showing him painting the taillight of the car before brushing up against it to mimic a collision.FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON XAlessi looked to create doubt surrounding Welchers findings, grilling the biomechanical engineer on the methodology behind his experiment surrounding the cause of the injury to OKeefes eye."Im trying to make it clear," Welcher said. "We dont know his exact body position at the point of impact, nor do we know the exact position on the ground. Which is part of the reason why I havent tried to exactly simulate this, because we dont have enough parameters to do that. So I dont have that information. Im showing the geometry relative to someone of Mr. OKeefes height.""So you dont have the information to do that properly," Alessi said. "So therefore, you cant preclude that he had a laceration to the eye from the spoiler by your own answer that you just gave, correct?"Welcher doubled down on his investigation, asserting on the stand that Apertures experiment was correct based on the information the firm had at the time, despite Alessi revealing the vehicle in Welchers test was moving only two miles per hour significantly less than the speed of Reads vehicle.SIGN UP TO GET TRUE-CRIME NEWSLETTER"Would you agree that you did a blue paint test with the vehicle going at two miles per hour?" Alessi asked."Of course," Welcher said."You didnt do a blue paint test with the vehicle going at 20 miles per hour, correct?" Alessi said."That is correct," Welcher said. "I was not going to hit myself with the Lexus at 20 miles an hour."Wednesday marked the second day of testimony from Welcher, as the state is expected to rest its case this week.Read pleaded not guilty and is facing the possibility of life in prison if convicted of the top charge, second-degree murder."The model being followed here is very good and professional," Lu said. "What you have here is a very nice judge meets a very nice lawyer," adding, "This results in a looser, less-focused cross-examination. Its working out fine here, partially because the witness is not being super evasive."

Almost 10 months after a Texas familys boat capsized off the coast of Homer, Alaska, a search turned up human remains at the bottom of the bay.In August 2024, the U.S. Coast Guard searched for the missing boaters but suspended it without any sightings.David and Mary Maynard, of Troy,along with their two sons 11-year-old Colton Maynard and 8-year-old Brantley Maynard went missing after a 28-foot aluminum boat carrying eight people capsized approximately 16 miles west of Homer, the U.S. Coast Guard said.TEXAS FAMILY MISSING ON ALASKA VACATION AFTER BOAT CAPSIZES OFF COASTAlaska State Troopers said they had three private companies Support Vessels of Alaska, Vision Subsea, and Benthic Geoscience Inc contact them to offer their professional tools to assist with the search. With their assistance, they were able to locate the missing boat."In early May, the group was able to locate the vessel in 180 feet of water and, utilizing a remotely operated vehicle, they were able to positively identify it as the missing boat with potential human remains onboard," the Alaska State Troopers reported.Since the discovery, divers have recovered three sets of remains from the sunken vessel and transported them to the State Medical Examiners Office for positive identification and autopsy.COAST GUARD RESCUES 4 PASSENGERS FROM CAPSIZED BOAT OFF FLORIDA COAST; 1 DEAD, 5 STILL MISSINGNext of kin have been notified and the Alaska Wildlife Troopers expressed their thanks to everyone who assisted in the recovery efforts."The Alaska Wildlife Troopers would like to thank Support Vessels of Alaska, Vision Subsea, Benthic Geoscience Inc, and Alaska Dive Search, Rescue, and Recovery Team for their continued assistance with this search and recovery operation," they said.A GoFundMe posted when the family first went missing said the Maynards "left a huge imprint on many people," from the laughter they brought to others to the "love and family-oriented connection they provided."It goes on to express how much they will be missed."It is indescribable the void that will be left behind, but I know if we come together as a family and a community they would know how much they meant to everyone," the GoFundMe states.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are now four wins away from their first title since moving out of Seattle.The Thunder are the kings of the Western Conference after manhandling the Minnesota Timberwolves, 124-94, in Game 5 of the conference finals on Wednesday night.It's the first time the Thunder are in the NBA Finals since 2012 that big three of a young Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden lost to the superteam that was the Miami Heat, led by LeBron James.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COMTimes got dark in recent years, though Durant left after the 2015-16 season following the Thunder blowing a 3-1 lead to the 73-9 Golden State Warriors in that season's conference finals. After the Warriors returned the favor to James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, Durant headed west to the Bay Area and won two titles.While that happened, it prompted a rebuild that took the team near the bottom of the league's standings just four years ago.MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way with 34 points, while Chet Holmgren added 22. Jalen Williams added 19 points and eight rebounds for the Thunder.INDIANA FEVER SUFFER WORST LOSS OF THE SEASON IN CAITLIN CLARK'S FIRST MISSED GAME OF CAREEROklahoma City will play the Indiana Pacers or New York Knicks in the finals. Indiana leads the Eastern Conference finals series 3-1 with Game 5 to be played in New York City on Thursday.Oklahoma City will have homecourt advantage when the Finals begin on June 5 because of its league-best 68-14 regular-season record.Julius Randle scored 24 points and Anthony Edwards added 19 for the Timberwolves, who shot just 41.2% from the field and committed 21 turnovers.Oklahoma City opened the game on an 11-3 run and extended the advantage throughout the first quarter. Cason Wallace drained a 3-pointer as the first quarter expired to put the Thunder up 26-9 at the end of the period.Oklahoma City led 65-32 at halftime and 88-62 heading into the fourth quarter.The Thunder moved from Seattle in the 2000s, and won the 1979 NBA title.The Associated Press contributed to this report.Follow Fox News Digitalssports coverage on X,and subscribe tothe Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Almost 10 months after a Texas familys boat capsized off the coast of Homer, Alaska, a search turned up human remains at the bottom of the bay.In August 2024, the U.S. Coast Guard searched for the missing boaters but suspended it without any sightings.David and Mary Maynard, of Troy,along with their two sons 11-year-old Colton Maynard and 8-year-old Brantley Maynard went missing after a 28-foot aluminum boat carrying eight people capsized approximately 16 miles west of Homer, the U.S. Coast Guard said.TEXAS FAMILY MISSING ON ALASKA VACATION AFTER BOAT CAPSIZES OFF COASTAlaska State Troopers said they had three private companies Support Vessels of Alaska, Vision Subsea, and Benthic Geoscience Inc contact them to offer their professional tools to assist with the search. With their assistance, they were able to locate the missing boat."In early May, the group was able to locate the vessel in 180 feet of water and, utilizing a remotely operated vehicle, they were able to positively identify it as the missing boat with potential human remains onboard," the Alaska State Troopers reported.Since the discovery, divers have recovered three sets of remains from the sunken vessel and transported them to the State Medical Examiners Office for positive identification and autopsy.COAST GUARD RESCUES 4 PASSENGERS FROM CAPSIZED BOAT OFF FLORIDA COAST; 1 DEAD, 5 STILL MISSINGNext of kin have been notified and the Alaska Wildlife Troopers expressed their thanks to everyone who assisted in the recovery efforts."The Alaska Wildlife Troopers would like to thank Support Vessels of Alaska, Vision Subsea, Benthic Geoscience Inc, and Alaska Dive Search, Rescue, and Recovery Team for their continued assistance with this search and recovery operation," they said.A GoFundMe posted when the family first went missing said the Maynards "left a huge imprint on many people," from the laughter they brought to others to the "love and family-oriented connection they provided."It goes on to express how much they will be missed."It is indescribable the void that will be left behind, but I know if we come together as a family and a community they would know how much they meant to everyone," the GoFundMe states.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are now four wins away from their first title since moving out of Seattle.The Thunder are the kings of the Western Conference after manhandling the Minnesota Timberwolves, 124-94, in Game 5 of the conference finals on Wednesday night.It's the first time the Thunder are in the NBA Finals since 2012 that big three of a young Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden lost to the superteam that was the Miami Heat, led by LeBron James.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COMTimes got dark in recent years, though Durant left after the 2015-16 season following the Thunder blowing a 3-1 lead to the 73-9 Golden State Warriors in that season's conference finals. After the Warriors returned the favor to James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, Durant headed west to the Bay Area and won two titles.While that happened, it prompted a rebuild that took the team near the bottom of the league's standings just four years ago.MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the way with 34 points, while Chet Holmgren added 22. Jalen Williams added 19 points and eight rebounds for the Thunder.INDIANA FEVER SUFFER WORST LOSS OF THE SEASON IN CAITLIN CLARK'S FIRST MISSED GAME OF CAREEROklahoma City will play the Indiana Pacers or New York Knicks in the finals. Indiana leads the Eastern Conference finals series 3-1 with Game 5 to be played in New York City on Thursday.Oklahoma City will have homecourt advantage when the Finals begin on June 5 because of its league-best 68-14 regular-season record.Julius Randle scored 24 points and Anthony Edwards added 19 for the Timberwolves, who shot just 41.2% from the field and committed 21 turnovers.Oklahoma City opened the game on an 11-3 run and extended the advantage throughout the first quarter. Cason Wallace drained a 3-pointer as the first quarter expired to put the Thunder up 26-9 at the end of the period.Oklahoma City led 65-32 at halftime and 88-62 heading into the fourth quarter.The Thunder moved from Seattle in the 2000s, and won the 1979 NBA title.The Associated Press contributed to this report.Follow Fox News Digitalssports coverage on X,and subscribe tothe Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

The San Francisco Unified School District will not be moving forward with a controversial equity grading strategy that was proposed this week after significant backlash.The strategy, known as "Grading for Equity," was presented during a SFUSD Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, according to Superintendent Maria Su, with the goal of offering "professional development opportunity in standards-based grading."Under the proposed standards, how a student scores on the final exam, which could be taken multiple times, would be what counts toward their grade for the semester, according to the Voice of San Francisco.Homework and weekly tests would not impact the grade, and neither would late assignments, tardiness to class or absence from school.COLLEGE DROPOUTS CELEBRATE AT UNCONVENTIONAL 'GRADUATION' CEREMONY IN SAN FRANCISCOThe letter-grade system would also be significantly altered, allowing students who score an 80 to receive an A and students who score as low as a 21 to pass with a D, which models the "Grading for Equity" system in the San Leandro Unified School District, Voice of San Francisco reported.The new system was supposed to be tested by 70 teachers in 14 SFUSD schools until the community, including the mayor and lawmakers, spoke out against the proposal.San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie wrote on X that the younger generation is owed "an education that prepares them to succeed" and the "changes to grading at SFUSF would not accomplish that.""I have conveyed our view to SFUSD. We are optimistic that there is a better path forward for our kids and their future," he wrote, in part.TENSIONS FLARE AT SCHOOL BOARD MEETING AFTER TRANS ATHLETE WINS MULTIPLE TRACK EVENTSU.S. Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-Calif., called out the proposal, sarcastically describing it as a "brilliant solution.""San Francisco has come up with a brilliant solution for its failing schools. Students simply won't be failed," Kiley wrote on X. "Under the new Grading for Equity plan, Fs are now Cs; Bs are now As; homework and tests are ungraded; truancy is unpunished; and finals can be re-taken again and again."U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., also shared his opinion on the proposed grading system on his personal X account."My immigrant dad asked me where the missing 10% went when I scored a 90. He came to America for the chance to work hard & pursue excellence. Giving As for 80% & no homework is not equityit betrays the American Dream and every parent who wants more for their kids," he wrote.A statement from Su on SFUSD's X account on Wednesday said that there have been no changes to grading practices within the school district and no action was taken at the meeting.She said each student within the school district is held to a high standard and SFUSD's goal is to "support student success by prioritizing learning and mastery.""It's clear that there are a lot of questions, concerns and misinformation with this proposal. We want to make sure any changes benefit our students," Su wrote, in part.

The San Francisco Unified School District will not be moving forward with a controversial equity grading strategy that was proposed this week after significant backlash.The strategy, known as "Grading for Equity," was presented during a SFUSD Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, according to Superintendent Maria Su, with the goal of offering "professional development opportunity in standards-based grading."Under the proposed standards, how a student scores on the final exam, which could be taken multiple times, would be what counts toward their grade for the semester, according to the Voice of San Francisco.Homework and weekly tests would not impact the grade, and neither would late assignments, tardiness to class or absence from school.COLLEGE DROPOUTS CELEBRATE AT UNCONVENTIONAL 'GRADUATION' CEREMONY IN SAN FRANCISCOThe letter-grade system would also be significantly altered, allowing students who score an 80 to receive an A and students who score as low as a 21 to pass with a D, which models the "Grading for Equity" system in the San Leandro Unified School District, Voice of San Francisco reported.The new system was supposed to be tested by 70 teachers in 14 SFUSD schools until the community, including the mayor and lawmakers, spoke out against the proposal.San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie wrote on X that the younger generation is owed "an education that prepares them to succeed" and the "changes to grading at SFUSF would not accomplish that.""I have conveyed our view to SFUSD. We are optimistic that there is a better path forward for our kids and their future," he wrote, in part.TENSIONS FLARE AT SCHOOL BOARD MEETING AFTER TRANS ATHLETE WINS MULTIPLE TRACK EVENTSU.S. Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-Calif., called out the proposal, sarcastically describing it as a "brilliant solution.""San Francisco has come up with a brilliant solution for its failing schools. Students simply won't be failed," Kiley wrote on X. "Under the new Grading for Equity plan, Fs are now Cs; Bs are now As; homework and tests are ungraded; truancy is unpunished; and finals can be re-taken again and again."U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., also shared his opinion on the proposed grading system on his personal X account."My immigrant dad asked me where the missing 10% went when I scored a 90. He came to America for the chance to work hard & pursue excellence. Giving As for 80% & no homework is not equityit betrays the American Dream and every parent who wants more for their kids," he wrote.A statement from Su on SFUSD's X account on Wednesday said that there have been no changes to grading practices within the school district and no action was taken at the meeting.She said each student within the school district is held to a high standard and SFUSD's goal is to "support student success by prioritizing learning and mastery.""It's clear that there are a lot of questions, concerns and misinformation with this proposal. We want to make sure any changes benefit our students," Su wrote, in part.

Some celebrities are reportedly worried about being called to testify in the Sean "Diddy" Combs sex trafficking trial and have hired lawyers."I have heard that there are some celebrities worried about being called to testify and have even lawyered up trying to fight that," TMZ founder Harvey Levin tells Fox News Digital."I think [rapper Kid] Cudi and Cassie were the star witnesses, but I don't know who else the prosecution has up their sleeve," Levin said. "I dont know what's going on behind the scenes there, but they've got four weeks left of testimony before they hand it over to the defense. We will see. But what they clearly are doing is cobbling together what they claim is proof beyond a reasonable doubt that he has committed these various crimes."Levin didnt detail which celebrities might be called to testify.DIDDY EX ASSISTANT CAPRICORN CLARK DELIVERS MOST EXPLOSIVE TESTIMONY YET IN RAPPER'S FEDERAL TRIAL: EXPERTDiddy's ex, Cassie, rapper Kid Cudi and singer Dawn Richard have already taken the stand.The rapper went on trial this month after being charged with racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion and transportation to engage in prostitution.On Wednesday, arson investigator Lance Jimenez, who investigated the car fire that damaged Kid Cudis Porsche beyond repair in 2012, and Diddys former stylist both testified.Jimenez testified he believed the Porsche was targeted after Kid Cudis testimony that he thinks Diddy was involved in setting the car on fire. Kid Cudi had been dating Cassie at the time, while she was on a break from Diddy.Jimenez told the jury he believed someone lit a Molotov cocktail and dropped it into the cut-open roof of Kid Cudis car.He said he tried unsuccessfully to reach Diddys assistant at the time about the vandalism. The assistant testified she hung up on him because she "wanted this whole thing to be over." Jimenez also tried to reach Cassie.WATCH ON FOX NATION: WHAT DIDDY DO?According to Jimenez, no charges were brought in the car fire case, but he never closed the case. It is currently listed as "inactive."Following Jimenez, Diddys former stylist, Deonte Nash, testified that he witnessed the rapper threaten Cassie often, calling her names like "b----" and "s---" and allegedly warning that he would "beat her a--."He claimed he also saw Diddy hit her more than once, including a time when he came over to her house unannounced and allegedly beat her until she was bloody, telling her, "Look what you all made me do."LIKE WHAT YOURE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSNash also testified that Diddy once choked him, accusing him of going out with Cassie without his permission.The prosecution has been focused on Cassie in the Diddy trial so far, which experts previously told Fox News Digital is their "star witness."Levin told Fox News Digital if the jury believes Cassies earlier testimony that Diddy showed her a sex video from a "freak off" he filmed while on an airplane returning to New York from Cannes, threatening to release it unless she did another freak off with him in New York, "I think they could nail him certainly as it pertains to Cassie because that clearly would show coercion."CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTERHe added, "So, I think Diddy has a big problem there if the jury believes it. Diddy also has a problem with the interstate transportation of sex workers, I think."But Levin said he wasnt clearly seeing proof of racketeering."When you look at all of the things he did, he's burglarizing Kid Cudi's house and going not for money or drugs or jewelry or anything like that. He is going for the Christmas present that he was going to give Cassie, and then he torches Cudis car, and then makes threats against her mother. This feels like a crazed, criminal, jealous boyfriend," Levin said. "And I don't think it necessarily shows him to be a racketeer."CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPLevin said Diddy did allegedly use his employees to do "various things, but usually when you talk about racketeering and organized crime, you're talking about having an undercover illegal business, selling drugs, running guns, doing hits on people. He's not selling drugs. He's using people to help him buy drugs. That, to me, is not racketeer. So I have a feeling. At least at this point, the jury isnt sold on that."

A Chicago alderman says the city is taking a "giant leap in the wrong direction" after the Department of Justice announced it is investigating Mayor Brandon Johnson's hiring practices.During a May 18 service at the Apostolic Church of God, Johnson responded to people who claimed he only talked about hiring Black people."No, what Im saying is, when you hire our people, we always look out for everybody else. We are the most generous people on the planet," he said. "I'm laying that out because when you ask, 'How do we ensure that our people get a chance to grow their business,' having people in my administration that will look out for the interests of everyone, and everyone means you have to look out for the interests of Black folks."Johnson mentioned top officials who serve in his administration and emphasized their race. One example included his deputy mayor of business and economic development, a Black woman.DOJ LAUNCHES INVESTIGATION INTO BLUE STATE CITY OVER ALLEGED RACE-BASED HIRINGAfter his remarks, Harmeet K. Dhillon, the assistant attorney general for the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division, notified Johnson his administration is being investigated to see if it utilizes discriminatory hiring practices."Considering these remarks, I have authorized an investigation to determine whether the City of Chicago is engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination as set forth above. If these kind of hiring decisions are being made for top-level positions in your administration, then it begs the question whether such decisions are also being made for lower-level positions," Dhillon said.Chicago Alderman Raymond Lopez told Fox News Digital he's glad the DOJ is looking into the Johnson administration's hiring practices, saying he thinks many Chicagoans have the same concern.CHICAGO'S MAYOR JOHNSON IS SO FOCUSED ON RACE HE CAN'T SEE THE TRUTH ABOUT HUMANITY"I am glad that they are looking into it. I think it validates the concerns that many Chicagoans have had that Brandon Johnson is a mayor, not for the entire city, but for only one demographic," Lopez said. "There are tens of thousands of individuals who work for the city of Chicago who feel as though they have been left out of promotions, left out of advancement or even left out from being hired as a whole even on the front line. And I think that needs to be looked into by the Department of Justice."Lopez said he thinks the city is taking steps in the wrong direction in the way it hires."This is just one sad step backwards for the City of Chicago to have the mayor articulate so passionately that he prefers to hire one ethnic demographic at the expense of all others. It doesn't make sense to me how, in the 21st century, we've done so much to try to move beyond seeing each other just solely based on race, that we are now taking a giant leap in the wrong direction," he said.The alderman said there are Black Chicago residents he talks to who disagree with Johnson when it comes to hiring decisions."Let me be 100%, 110% clear on this note. There are African Americans who don't like that statement either. There are many well-qualified leaders of departments who put blood, sweat and tears into lifting up Chicago, who now have been trivialized by his comments and are viewed through a lens of they're just here because they're Black," Lopez added.In comments made after the DOJ launched its investigation, Johnson said it came from a place of fear."You can tell when someone is fearful is because they act out," Johnson said. "We have a president that is screaming and having tantrums right now because we have an administration that reflects the city of Chicago, but he would much rather have administrations that reflect the country club. Period."Fox News Digital reached out to Johnson for comment.Fox News' Greg Wehner contributed to this report.