Kristen Clarke, the Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division at the Department of Justice, is facing scrutiny after admitting to lying under oath about an arrest expunged from her record, stemming from a domestic dispute almost 18 years ago.
The revelation came after court documents and text messages, uncovered by The Daily Signal, confirmed that Clarke was arrested following a heated domestic dispute with her ex-husband, Reginald Avery, in July 2006.
Avery alleged that Clarke attacked him with a knife after discovering his extramarital affair, resulting in serious injuries.
While a criminal case was opened against Clarke in 2006, it was dismissed without trial, and she subsequently requested to expunge the arrest from her record more than a year later.
During her confirmation hearing, Clarke denied any arrest or accusation of committing a violent crime, a statement she later conceded was false.
In a statement to CNN, Clarke provided insight into the trauma she endured during her turbulent marriage, describing it as a period of abuse and domestic violence.
She defended her decision not to disclose the expunged arrest during her confirmation process, citing it as a personal matter that did not require disclosure.
@JoyceWhiteVance also wrote:
“This is ridiculous. I’ve known Kristen Clarke for years & consider her a good friend as well as a colleague. She’s now made the painful disclosure that 20 years ago she was the victim of serious domestic abuse & was arrested once in that time.”
Republican Senator Mike Lee of Utah called for Clarke’s resignation, asserting that she lied under oath and violated the trust of the confirmation process.
However, Clarke found support from various quarters, with some criticizing the senators calling for her resignation.
They pointed to the senators’ allegiance to former President Donald Trump, who himself faces numerous legal challenges, including over 90 felony counts.
Clarke’s ex-husband, Reginald Avery, disputed her portrayal of events, denying any physical abuse during their marriage and labeling her admission as an attempt to victimize herself.
Despite the controversy, Clarke has stated her commitment to her role in the Civil Rights Division, stressing she remains dedicated to advocating for crime victims’ experiences and needs.
