WASHINGTON ¨C Wilbur Ross spoke with Steve Bannon, President Donald Trump¡¯s former chief strategist, before including on the 2020 census a question about people¡¯s citizenship, the Justice Department said in a court document that appears to contradict what the commerce secretary told Congress.
The disclosure came in a lawsuit by more than a dozen states, cities and advocacy groups seeking to block the U.S. from asking the question, claiming it¡¯s discriminatory and designed to reduce the accuracy of the count by cutting participation. The Justice Department¡¯s filing, which was posted online Thursday by the New York Attorney General¡¯s office, was in response to questions from the plaintiffs.
Ross has denied speaking to Bannon, a vocal opponent of immigration, telling a congressional committee in March that he was ¡°not aware¡± of any discussions with the president or anyone else in the White House about the citizenship question.
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