Politician Joel Holmes Jr. Faces Backlash After Allegations Surface of Defending Clients with Troubling Histories

Presidential candidate Joel Holmes Jr., a former attorney turned political leader who has long been an outspoken advocate for racial justice, equity, and workplace reforms, is facing intense scrutiny after new reports reveal his past legal work for clients with troubling histories of workplace discrimination and misconduct.

Holmes, who has built his campaign on a platform of justice for marginalized communities, is now confronting a growing scandal involving his legal career. Documents reviewed by The Times suggest that, during his time as a high-powered attorney in Los Angeles, Holmes represented multiple corporate clients that were later accused of significant workplace violations, including racial and gender discrimination, harassment, and retaliation against whistleblowers.

The revelation is particularly damaging given Holmes’ vocal advocacy for workers' rights and his promises to tackle systemic inequality. His campaign had positioned him as a candidate who would fight for the very employees who have historically been silenced and exploited in corporate environments. But these new findings suggest a stark contrast between the champion of equity he presents to the public and the professional choices he made in his past.

Allegations of Corporate Defenders

One of the most high-profile cases comes from Holmes’ time representing Rexford Tech, a Silicon Valley tech giant embroiled in a legal battle over racial discrimination claims filed by former employees. In 2016, the company faced accusations of creating a hostile work environment for women and people of color, with numerous reports alleging that the company systematically favored white, male employees in hiring and promotion decisions.

Holmes represented Rexford Tech in the initial lawsuit, which was eventually settled for an undisclosed amount, but public records show that Holmes negotiated the settlement on terms that allowed the company to avoid significant accountability or public exposure. Many former employees claim that the settlement didn’t go far enough in holding the company accountable, with some alleging that Holmes played a key role in protecting the company’s reputation while limiting the scope of public attention given to the allegations.

“It’s incredibly frustrating,” said Erica Johnson, a former Rexford Tech employee who was one of the key whistleblowers in the case. “Joel Holmes Jr. was supposed to be an ally, but instead, he helped bury our case, making it easier for the company to move on with no real consequences. Now, to see him running for president on a platform of justice? It feels like a betrayal.”