The Justice Department on Thursday accused Yale University of illegally discriminating against Asian American and white students in admissions, a major escalation of the administration's attacks on affirmative action.

After receiving complaints from Asian American students, the Justice Department two years ago launched an investigation of Yale's admissions process.

By contrast, the Justice Department said in its letter Thursday, Yale considers an applicant's race at several steps in the admissions process.

"Had the department fully received and fairly weighed this information, it would have concluded that Yale’s practices absolutely comply with decades of Supreme Court precedent," the school said