Kristen Clarke, the civil rights chief of the U.S. Department of Justice, recently admitted to omitting information about her past arrest history during her Senate confirmation process. She revealed that she had been arrested in 2006 in connection to a domestic violence incident but chose not to disclose this during her confirmation hearing in 2021.
In a statement to CNN, Ms. Clarke shared that she had been a victim of domestic violence perpetrated by her ex-husband nearly two decades ago. She described the experience as a traumatic and terrorizing period that she has worked to overcome for her personal well-being.
Despite being asked about any violent crime accusations during her confirmation hearing, Ms. Clarke responded negatively. She justified her omission by stating that the arrest had been expunged from her record, making her believe she was not required to disclose it to Congress.
While the FBI typically conducts background checks before nominations, it appears that the agency did not uncover the domestic violence incidents that led to Ms. Clarke’s arrest. Her ex-husband, Reginald Avery, alleged that she had attacked him with a knife, resulting in a deep cut on his finger, during a dispute in 2006. Court records showed that the case against Ms. Clarke was dismissed without a trial in October 2006, and her records were expunged in 2008.
Senator Mike Lee has called for Ms. Clarke’s resignation for lying under oath, but she has chosen to remain in her position and continue her work as the Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division at the DOJ. She emphasized her commitment to prioritizing the needs and experiences of crime victims in her role.
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