KATHARINE SULLIVAN
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General
2019-2021
DOJ WHISTLEBLOWER COMPLAINT SUGGESTS ANTI-TRAFFICKING GRANTS WENT TO QUESTIONABLE CHARITIES: REPORT
"Our funding decisions are based on a merit-based review system," Sullivan said while adding that allegations facing Hookers for Jesus as described were "inappropriate."
February 10, 2020
EXCLUSIVE: JUSTICE DEPARTMENT ANTI-HUMAN TRAFFICKING GRANTS PROMPT WHISTLEBLOWER COMPLAINT
Feburary 10, 2020
An internal department memo seen by Reuters shows that as of September 12, two long-established nonprofits – the Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Palm Beach and Chicanos Por La Causa of Phoenix – were originally on the list of recommended grant winners after receiving high marks from outside contractors hired to review applications. The annual grants help nonprofits and local governments aid human trafficking victims.
Later that month, those two organizations were replaced as recommended recipients by Hookers for Jesus and the Lincoln Tubman Foundation, which both received lower rankings from the outside reviewers. The reason, a September 23 memo says, was an effort to “distribute funding across as many states as possible.”
The change was ultimately approved by Katharine Sullivan, head of the Office of Justice Programs, OJP, which awards the grants. Sullivan defended the process as proper. “Our funding decisions are based on a merit-based review system,” she said.