Deputy Attorney General Kristen Clarke admitted Wednesday that she was arrested and chose not to disclose the legal matter during her Senate confirmation process because it was expunged from her record.
During her 2021 confirmation process, Clarke, who now heads the Justice Department’s civil rights division, was asked by Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) in a questionnaire whether she had “ever been arrested or accused of committing a violent crime.” against anyone. »
To which Clarke replied, “No.”
The Daily Signal reported Tuesday that Clarke was arrested in Maryland following a 2006 domestic violence complaint.
The outlet cited court documents, her ex-husband Reginald Avery and text messages between Avery and the head of the American Accountability Foundation (a conservative nonprofit group).
Avery told the outlet his finger was “sliced to the bone” after Clarke allegedly attacked him with a knife after revealing he was cheating on her.
The charges against Clarke were dropped and more than a year later she filed documents that would expunge the arrest from her record.
“Nearly twenty years ago, I was subjected to years of abuse and domestic violence at the hands of my ex-husband,” Clarke said in a statement to CNN on Wednesday.
“It was a terrifying and traumatic time that I sought to put behind me to promote my personal health, healing and well-being,” she added. “Physical and emotional scarring, emotional abuse and exploitation, and lies are things no woman or mother should ever have to endure. »
Clarke claimed that since the arrest was cleared, she was not required to disclose it to lawmakers.
“When given the opportunity to speak about such traumatic incidents in my life, I chose not to,” the Biden administration official said. “I did not believe during my confirmation process and I do not believe now that I was obligated to share something completely erased from my past.”
At least one Republican is demanding that Clarke resign from her DOJ position, arguing that she should have disclosed her arrest.
“Kristen Clarke is responsible for enforcing civil rights laws. She aggressively enforces these laws against anyone who sneezes near an abortion clinic. And not at all against those who vandalize churches,” said Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah). written on x.
“She lied under oath during her confirmation proceedings and should resign,” the senator said.
Clarke does not appear to have any plans to resign.
“As I have done at every stage of my career as a public servant, I will continue to work to ensure that we carry out our work in a way that centers the experiences and needs of victims of crime,” she said .
New York Post
