Has gotten us into trouble, or at least has inflicted injustice around the world and therefore restrained and diminished. Ive come up with nine words which i think describe his doctrine. Embolden our enemies, undermine our friends, and diminished our country. When you look at what has been done to our military most especially, but a really other insurance of national power, and our alliance relationships, and what has been done to really encourage our enemies to think that this is a moment this is a year of living dangerously for the united states, it really as up to a fundamental transformation he inherited from his predecessor. A lot of colors. A lot of callers. Grant, good morning. Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for being here. Announce a to significant Law Enforcement action regarding north securitys privacy and act also known as health of bill two. It passed health bill to in march 23 of this year. The bills authors write down an antidissemination provision and passedasseds ordinance as well as making bathroomsr people use based on their sex at birth. And the Governor PlaceNorth Carolina in direct opposition to federal laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sex and gender identity. More to the point, they created statesponsored dissemination against transgender individuals who simply seek to engage in the most private of functions in a place of safety and security. A right, taken for granted by most of us. Last week, our Civil Rights Division notified state officials and North Carolina that house bill two violates federal civil rights laws. We asked that they certified by the end of today that they would not comply with or implement house bill twos restriction on restroom access. An extension was requested by North Carolina and was underactive incineration. But instead of replying to our offer or providing a certification, this morning, the state of North Carolina and as governor chose to respond by suing the department of justice. As a result of their decision, we are now moving forward. Today, we are filing a federal civil rights lawsuit against the state of North Carolina. , the northt mccrory Carolina Department of Public Safety and the university of North Carolina. We are seeking a court order declaring hb 2s restroom description restriction discriminatory. Seek the lawsuit currently the glare toward relief, i want to note that we retain the option of curtailing federal funding for the North Carolina department of Public Safety and the university of North Carolina as this case proceeds. But this action is about a great deal more than bathrooms. And is about the dignity the respect that we accord our fellow citizens and of the laws that we as the people and as a protecthave enacted to them. Indeed, to protect all of us. And it is about the founding ideals that have led to this country, halting but inexorably come in the wretch of fairness, inclusion, and equality for all americans. This is not the first time that we have seen discriminatory responses to historic moments of progress for our nation. We saw it in the jim crow laws that followed the emancipation proclamation. We saw it in the fears and widespread resistance to brown the board of education. And we saw in the proliferation of state bans on samesex unions that were intended to stifle any hope that gay and lesbian americans might one day be afforded the right to marry. And that right is now recognized as a guarantee embedded in our constitution. That historic triumph, we have seen bill after bill and a state after state taking aim at the lgbt. Community. Some of these responsibilities but this is not a time to act out of fear. This is a time to summon our national virtues of inclusivity, of diversity, of compassion and openmindedness. T we must not do, west what we must never do is turn on our neighbors, our family members of our fellow americans for something they cannot control and denied the makes them human. And it is like none of us can stand by my state enters the business of legislating identity and insists a person pretend to be something or someone that they are not or invent a problem that does not exist as a pretext for discrimination and harassment. And let me speak now directly to the people of the great state, the beautiful state, my home state, of North Carolina. You would been told this law protects honorable populations from harm, but that is just not the case. Instead, what this law does is inflict further indignity of a population that has already suffered far more than its fair share. This law provides no benefit to society and all it does is harm innocent americans. Away from ourning neighbors, our friends and our colleagues and let us instead learn from our history and avoid repeating the mistakes of our past. Obvious butn the often neglected lesson that state sanctioned discrimination Never Looks Good and never works in hindsight. It was not so very long ago that states, including North Carolina, and other signs above rest rooms, water fountains, and on public accommodations, keeping people out based on a distinction without a difference. We have moved beyond those dark days but not without a tremendous amount of pain and suffering and an ongoing fight to keep moving forward. Let us write a different story this time. Not act out of fear and misunderstanding, but out of the thousands of inclusion and diversity in regard to all that make our country great. And let me speak directly to the Transgender Community itself. Some of you have lived freely for decades in others of you are still wondering how you can possibly live the lives that you were born to lead. But no matter how isolated, no matter how afraid, and no matter how alone you may feel today, know this. The department of justice and the entire Obama Administration want you to know that we see you , we stand with you, and we will do everything we can to protect you going forward. Please know that history is on your side. This country was founded on the promise of equal rights for all, and we have always managed to move closer to that ideal. Little by little, day by day, and it may not be easy but we will get there together. Levy also thank my colleagues the Civil Rights Division devoted many hours to this case so far and will devote many more to seeing it through. At this time i will turn the podium over, whos determined leadership has been essential to the Justice Departments work. Thank you, attorney general lynch for those powerful words. Throughout the ark of our tragedys history from to justice, marches of equality, there were pivotal moments when toricas leaders spoke out safeguard the ideal of equal justice under law and history will record your a spiral words and our forceful action today as one of those moments. I also want to thank the entire team throughout the Civil Rights Division who have worked tirelessly over the last several weeks to ensure everyone in North Carolina has the full protections of our laws. Today we filed a federal civil rights complaint in federal court. Before i discuss the details, i want to make one thing clear. A bathroom bill trivializes what this is really about. Translates into discrimination in the real world. The complaint we filed today speaks to Public Employees who feel afraid and sympathized on the job. Stigmatized on the job. It speaks to students who feel their tapestries them differently. It speaks to all of us who have ever been made to feel inferior, like somehow we just do not belong in our community. Let me reassure every transgender and best individual you you belong to us if are, you are supported, and you are protected. Our complaint is under three statutes. Of them are like standing against determination. Title vii of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and title ix of the education amendments of 1972. It is fitting that these statutes, which emerged from our nations long struggle to banish the legacy of legal discrimination them are now being used to defend come uphold the, and uphold the progress that has resulted in that struggle, progress that represents america at its best, brightest, and strongest. Title ix and title vii prohibits discrimination is on fact. The department of justice has for some time now made clear that sex dissemination includes transgender people. That is dissemination based on gender identity. That is consistent not only liquid of the statute but also be legal interpretation adopted by federal court. Including the Appellate Court with the jurisdiction over the state of North Carolina. Theres nothing radical or even particularly unusual about the notion that the word sex includes the concept of gender. People are discarded against because their gender identity does not match the sex which was assigned to them at birth. Peopleny stringent are something that nontrain gender people enjoy and take for granted that access to restrooms consistent with their gender identity. That is sex dissemination plain and simple. Whenview is confirmed erez of when proponents of men are men and transgender women are women. The North CarolinaPublic Safety and the university of North Carolina because of sex dissemination in employment. Claim is brought against university because of sex nation and its program sex discrimination. Designedrecent statute to prevent discoloration against transgender people by entities that accept federal funds. As with title ix, entities that pledgedederal funds that they would not disseminate on the basis of sex or gender identity. Our complaint sees to enforce that pledge and hold those entities accountable for discrimination, the kind of information that is required by hb 2. We remain committed to working with any agency to develop a plan to ensure their compliance with federal law. For the reasons i just violatesed, and hb 2 the law. These items are timeless. These are values are timeless. They say that you can be you are and you deserve to live with dignity. At this time i will pass the mic to the attorney general who is available for questions. As you pointed out, charlotte passed a law which would have allowed transgender people to choose a bathroom based on how they identify, but there are havemunicipalities do not laws which specifically allow for that. Is the Justice Department thinking of intervening in places that have not passed laws like that, and would you consider intervening in other places that have done what North Carolina has done if you see a pattern . I will speak to the last part of your question with respect to jurisdictions which may have passed or are considering laws similar to hb 2. And viewingoring those situations. We remain open to discussions with any jurisdiction that has questions about whether or not a particular ordinance is going to fall afoul of federal law. The Charlotte Hornets in essentially added to its antidiscrimination language, guage making it clear saying you cannot have that as part of your dissemination laws, moved to strike that down. We would encourage jurisdictions to be as open as possible and their antidiscrimination coverage. You said you retain a right to curtail federal funding. What is the threshold for that . Ms. Lynch with respect to federal funding, the statutes that we brought this under do provide the opportunity to curtail federal funding under title nine and under the violence against women act. We remain open to discussions with the state. We know the University System has reached out to us. Their board of governors are meeting tomorrow. Were anxious to see what those discussions will bring. We are differing to requesting the curtailing of funding but we do retain at right. It will be premature to give a date. Today the governor said the Justice Department is bullying and engaging in overreach. What about that . Ms. Lynch i think the people who feel bullied are the transgender individuals who live in North Carolina, who live and work beside her Neighbors Without any problems and have done so for years and are now been singled out for something that they have no control over and as an essential part of who they are. I would shift the issue of bullying considerations along that front. Carolina hasnorth been aware that we have been reviewing and monitoring this law for sometime. We have been in communication with the University System for several weeks now. As i noted in my remarks, extension was requested. Lawississippi has passed a that allows people to not services if they disagree with samesex marriage, for instance. Where does the Justice Department fall on this issue . As a fall into civil rights law like this one does . Ms. Lynch its is a state or any jurisdiction may pass laws that allow businesses to disseminate. We will always review those laws and see if there is a basis for federal review and intervention. We remain open to talking to jurisdictions who are concerned about this and where we see laws that are on the books now come we are actively reviewing and monitoring those. But i am not able to comment right now on action we may or may not take. Calendar, itction is is it too late to take legal action on the clinton email investigation . Ms. Lynch that is an ongoing matter. They will review all the facts in evidence and make a recommendation at the appropriate time. I do not have anything more to say on that particular matter. The reason im asking is because you moved very quickly on the north american north line of matter. The average american is wondering why were taking so long on this email. Ourlynch we do all of reviews carefully, thoroughly, and efficiently. When the matter is ready for resolution a reclamation will be made and we will come to a decision at the time and i cannot give you a prediction. Governorher thing the amendoday, perhaps dissemination laws or clarify the intent intent of the meeting. Specify theres room to , remove any ambiguity . Ms. Lynch the federal law has been clear for some time now that his termination against sex includes dissemination against sexual and gender identity. They made a clear only about to be to go, so i do not have any further comment on the governors of that law. The violence against women act specifically talks about gender identity. We field of the law, the regulations, and the case law around title vii title ix and the bows against women act clearly indicate that hb 2 is a violation of federal law. Last 40 hours there have been a lot of talk out of mexico that the extradition of el chapo is imminent. Can you give us confirmation on that . Is the u. S. Concerned with the fact that he was taken to a heferent prison, one that was at before . Ms. Lynch that is a matter that by the mexicand government and the Mexican Attorney Generals Office and their court system. We have given them the information they need and we are looking forward to an imminent resolution of that. But because it is being handled by that jurisdiction i cannot give you a timeline or production on one that watch lakhdar. Im sorry for on which that will have or a prediction for when that will occur. Im sorry for that. Bathroomers to both and changing facilities. Can you explain why did i not see a dissension between the two . Some people is that if they might want to limit changing facilities because sometimes people are completely naked in a facilities. Why do not see any valid distinction . Ms. Lynch hb 2 does not distinguish between them. Requires state agencies to treat employees differently it is in violation of the law. Equallyas they are available to all students and all employees. You cannot single out any one particular group of people to be treated differently. If i can followup up, doesnt the law also ban all types of lgbt dissemination provisions across the state . I do not see that mentioned in the lawsuit. Ms. Lynch this lawsuit today focuses on the federal statute that we have mentioned. As you may know, there are other lawsuits currently pending that we feel will be moving forward at the same time as well, all of which recognize that hb 2 has set in place state sanctioned dissemination and we support those actions as well. Today byou surprised the actions of the governor in your home state . Does the department of justice to appeal the Voting Rights lawsuit . Ms. Lynch we actually have a filed a notice of appeal as of this past friday in that suit. We will continue to vigorously enforce every individuals right to vote and keep that right free and open for everyone. That notice of appeal was filed this past friday in the North Carolina case. With respect to the governors action, i do not have any comment on that. We were engaged with discussions with them about the timing of a response in the hope that we could work with them on ameliorating this law in some way. How it will be literally handled is up to the state legislature. We were hopeful we could have those discussions with them. I think it is unfortunate that the governors actions this morning curtailed that. But having amy that having made the choice we are now moving forward. Given that this is a touchy subject, did you consult with the white house about any of this . We made our Enforcement Actions separately and independently. Certainly, i think the white house is aware of the law and the issues and they have had their own comments. But we made this decision based on what we thought was the appropriate move to make at this time. Toyou just re