Kristen Clarke, the leader of the Justice Department’s civil rights division, revealed to CNN that she was a victim of years-long domestic abuse and chose not to disclose an expunged arrest record from that period during her Senate confirmation process. The arrest, which occurred during a domestic dispute, became a controversial topic among right-wing media and lawmakers, some of whom accused her of lying during her confirmation hearing and called for her resignation.
Clarke explained in a statement that she was a victim of abuse at the hands of her ex-husband nearly two decades ago. She described the experience as terrorizing and traumatizing, saying that the physical and emotional scars, emotional abuse, and exploitation were things that no woman or mother should have to endure. Despite facing this hardship in her past, Clarke sought to put it behind her in order to promote her personal health, healing, and well-being.
During her Senate confirmation process, Clarke answered “no” to a question from Republican Senator Tom Cotton about being arrested or accused of committing a violent crime. However, she later acknowledged in her statement that she was indeed arrested, but the arrest had been expunged and no longer existed on her record. Clarke defended her decision to withhold this information, stating that she did not believe she was obligated to share a fully expunged matter from her past.
The revelation of Clarke’s expunged arrest led to criticism from Senator Mike Lee, who accused her of lying under oath and called for her resignation. It is unclear what transpired in Clarke’s case, but experts on domestic violence note that victims of abuse are often arrested, even when they called the police for help. Clarke’s divorce from her ex-husband was finalized in 2009, and attempts to reach him for comment have been unsuccessful.
Despite facing personal challenges in her past, Clarke emphasized that she has brought her perspective as a survivor of domestic violence to her work. She vowed to continue working to ensure that the Justice Department carries out its work in a way that centers the experiences and needs of crime victims. Clarke’s resilience and dedication to serving the public were highlighted as she addressed the controversy surrounding her expunged arrest record.
