Federal investigators with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently questioned former interim President Katrina Armstrong regarding concerns surrounding antisemitism on Columbia University’s campus.
As reported by The Wall Street Journal, the interview—a closed-door deposition—took place on April 1st, shortly after Armstrong resigned from her position as interim president on March 28th. She has also stepped back from her role as CEO of Columbia University Irving Medical Center.
During the questioning, Armstrong stated she was unaware of allegations involving Jewish students being targeted with physical abuse, such as spitting. Furthermore, she claimed unfamiliarity with several faculty members allegedly distributing materials supportive of Hamas and defending the October 7, 2023, attacks.
Armstrong also asserted that she did not know of student calls for the destruction of Israel.
“I do not have specific recollections, sitting here, of what is in this report or what I recall from this report,” she stated during the deposition.
Sean Keveney, acting general counsel for HHS, expressed skepticism regarding Armstrong’s responses. According to a transcript excerpt published by The Wall Street Journal, he questioned her memory, saying: “I’m just trying to understand how you have such a terrible memory of specific incidents of antisemitism when you’re clearly an intelligent doctor.”
Armstrong attributed the situation to a difficult year. The New York Times reported that she described the past year as “very, very, very challenging” and indicated that portions of it felt like a “blur,” making specific recall difficult.
Columbia University’s board of trustees issued a statement seeking to distance themselves from Armstrong’s testimony. The board emphasized their commitment to addressing concerns regarding discrimination, harassment, and antisemitism:
- “Columbia University is firmly committed to resolving the issues raised by our federal regulators with respect to discrimination, harassment, and antisemitism.”
- “This testimony does not reflect the hard work undertaken by the University to combat antisemitism, harassment, and discrimination and ensure the safety and wellbeing of our community.”
The deposition occurs amid significant financial repercussions for Columbia. The Trump administration previously initiated a pullback of over $400 million in federal grants due to concerns about antisemitism on campus, with potential for further reductions. Negotiations are currently underway to restore funding, contingent upon the university’s agreement to revise its protest policies.
HHS and Columbia University were contacted for comment.
