House Republicans have expressed deep concern about Justice Department official Kristen Clarke’s ability to investigate civil rights complaints at Columbia University due to her association with known anti-Semites. Five GOP lawmakers, led by Rep. Claudia Tenney, wrote a letter to Clarke demanding she disavow her connections to individuals such as Tony Martin, Tamika Mallory, and Linda Sarsour, whom they described as anti-Semitic. They cited Clarke’s past support for these individuals and highlighted instances where she defended them in the face of accusations of anti-Semitism.
The lawmakers pointed out that Clarke hosted Tony Martin, who authored an anti-Semitic book, while serving as the president of the Harvard Black Students Association. They also mentioned her signing a letter defending Tamika Mallory after Mallory attended an event featuring Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, known for making anti-Semitic remarks. The House Republicans questioned Clarke’s judgment and ability to remain impartial in enforcing the law against Columbia University, given her deep connections to the institution, including being slated to be the graduation speaker at Columbia Law School.
During her 2021 confirmation process, Clarke refused to label Mallory as anti-Semitic but stated her denouncement of anti-Semitism. The House Republicans highlighted instances of discrimination against Jewish students at Columbia University, including anti-Semitic chants and protests advocating for the eradication of Israel. They called on the Department of Justice to support investigations into civil rights violations at the university, prosecute those attacking Jewish students, and disavow Mallory, Sarsour, and Martin. The Justice Department confirmed receiving the letter but declined to provide further comment.
The GOP letter follows a report revealing Clarke’s alleged misrepresentation to the Senate during her confirmation process, where she failed to disclose an arrest for domestic violence in 2006. Court documents and text messages indicated that Clarke had confronted her ex-husband with a knife, resulting in a severe cut to his finger. Although the charges were dropped, and the incident was expunged from her record, Clarke did not disclose this information in Senate questionnaires. She defended her decision not to disclose it, stating it was not required during her confirmation process.
Clarke’s past involvement with individuals linked to anti-Semitism, along with the controversy surrounding her alleged misrepresentation regarding a previous arrest, has raised concerns among House Republicans about her ability to investigate civil rights complaints at Columbia University impartially. The Republicans have called on Clarke to address her connections to anti-Semitic figures, denounce their views, and uphold the law without bias. The Department of Justice, in response to the letter, confirmed its receipt but did not provide additional comments on the matter. The focus on Clarke’s associations and past actions has drawn attention to the importance of integrity and transparency in such critical roles within the government.