Mike Lee calls for DOJ assistant AG's resignation for not telling Congress about expunged arrest

Clarke was arrested over a violent domestic dispute with her ex-husband, but claimed the arrest was expunged from her record.

By Misty Severi

Published: May 1, 2024 5:19pm

Utah GOP Sen. Mike Lee called for Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Kristen Clarke to resign Tuesday, accusing her of lying about an arrest during her confirmation hearing, which she claimed occurred during a violent domestic dispute and was expunged from her record.

A report revealed that Clarke was not entirely truthful when she testified to Congress that she had never been arrested for or accused of committing a violent crime. She was in fact arrested over the dispute, in which her ex-husband claimed she sliced his finger to the bone, the Daily Signal reported.

Lee demanded that Clarke resign from the Justice Department, slamming her for prosecuting "peaceful pro-life protesters," while she obscured the truth.

"Kristen Clarke is in charge of enforcing civil rights laws," Lee said in a post on X. "She enforces those laws aggressively against anyone who sneezes near an abortion clinic. And not at all against those who vandalize churches. She lied under oath during her confirmation proceedings, and should resign."

Clarke defended her decision not to share the arrest with the Senate, but confirmed it happened in a statement to CNN on Wednesday. Clarke said it had been expunged from her record and that she was the victim of years-long domestic abuse.

“Nearly 2 decades ago, I was subjected to years-long abuse and domestic violence at the hands of my ex-husband,” Clarke said. “This was a terrorizing and traumatizing period that I have sought to put behind me to promote my personal health, healing and well-being. The physical and emotional scars, the emotional abuse and exploitation, and the lying are things that no woman or mother should ever have to endure."

She continued: “When given the option to speak about such traumatic incidents in my life, I have chosen not to. I didn’t believe during my confirmation process and I don’t believe now that I was obligated to share a fully expunged matter from my past.”

Clarke did not explain why the arrest was removed from her court record, but arrests can be expunged when prosecutors decline to bring charges.