Jasmine Crockett Sparks Debate After Citing Being Black as Key to Public Defender Job

Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, stirred up quite the online storm on Wednesday after recounting how her race played a significant role in landing her first public defender job—despite having zero criminal defense experience at the time.

During a House Judiciary Subcommittee meeting on FBI corruption under the Biden administration, Crockett shared the story as an example to argue for greater diversity in law enforcement. Her words were as bold as they were polarizing.

"When I first became a public defender, I had no criminal defense experience. I walked in, and I told my boss, Charlie, ‘Listen, you should hire me.’ He said, ‘Why?’ I said, ‘Because I'm Black.’ Charlie looked at me like I was crazy," Crockett recalled.

She went on, "And I said, ‘Let me tell you something. When I walk in, I'm going to walk in with a level of rapport and understanding that maybe some of my other colleagues will not.’ Charlie offered me my job, and I worked my butt off and I worked really, really hard for all of my clients, not just those that look like me. That is what it looks like to serve."

While Crockett's narrative painted a picture of determination, her admission quickly became fodder for critics on social media. Accounts like Libs of TikTok wasted no time branding her as a "DEI hire." Conservative media figures chimed in to pile on the sarcasm, with legal scholar Carol Swain remarking, "Wow! This EXPLAINS a lot!" and activist Charlie Kirk labeling her a "cartoon character."

Public defenders, as Crockett herself noted, are tasked with representing those who can't afford private attorneys—a job that demands both skill and empathy. Her story, however, struck a nerve for many who questioned whether race should ever be used as a qualification.

During the hearing, Crockett doubled down on her stance, defending Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives in the criminal justice system. "We want somebody to show up, and we don't want them to look at us and act as if just because I'm Black or because I'm a woman that I am not worthy of having that case investigated," she said.

She later emphasized the importance of representation, stating, "We should have somebody that may show up and looks like me." Crockett argued that such initiatives inspire trust and confidence in communities historically underserved or discriminated against.

Fox News Digital reached out to Crockett for further comment but did not immediately hear back.