Feds Slap Woman With Hate Crime After Crown Heights Attacks

CROWN HEIGHTS, BROOKLYN — A woman faces another hate crime charge — this time from federal authorities — after a back-to-back-to-back series of attacks on Jewish women in Crown Heights.

Tiffany Harris, 30, cursed "F--- you Jews" as she slapped an Orthodox Jewish woman on Dec. 27, according to a newly-unsealed federal warrant. It's one of three slapping attacks by Harris that targeted Jewish women during a 10-minute span in Crown Heights, the warrant states.

The attacks occurred amid other violent anti-Semitic attacks around Hanukkah. They prompted a massive city campaign to thwart racism in Jewish neighborhoods and a city hate crime chargeagainst Harris.

U. S. Attorney General William Barr on Tuesday visited Jewish leaders in Borough Park and said federal authorities will more aggressively prosecute anti-Jewish hate crimes, ABC7 reported.

"We are charging her federally," Barr said of Harris, according to the ABC7 report.

Harris attacked three women because they were Jewish, the federal warrant states. She slapped the first woman in the face with an open hand as the woman walked alone at about 12:40 near Eastern Parkway and Kingston Avenue, the warrant states.

About five minutes later and three blocks away, Harris walked up to a group of six women and slapped one in the back of her head while saying "F--- you Jews," the warrant state. Two of those women were "visibly Orthodox," according to the warrant.

The final attack also involved a woman walking with someone else in traditional Orthodox Jewish clothing. The warrant states Harris walked up to the woman and slapped her in the face.

Harris became a lightning rod not only for her suspected role in anti-Semitic attacks, but also how her case could reflect on the state's new bail reform law that eliminates cash bail for many offenses. She was released without bail and one day later attacked a woman in Prospect Heights, according to the New York Post, which ran several stories linking her to the bail law.

A group of academics posted an open letter criticizing the Post and other outlets for alarmist coverage linking bail reform and anti-Semitic attacks. Harris, it stated, has mental illness.

"Under the new law, Ms. Harris was released and able to receive mental health treatment instead of being detained at Rikers Island for inability to pay bond," the letter states.