Former Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Clark faces criminal contempt of Congress charges for failing to answer questions and provide material in accordance with a subpoena from the House Special Committee investigating the January 6th attack on the Capitol, ABC News reports. The charge will be determined by a vote on the House floor, but the committee will not push for a vote if Clark follows through on a late promise to comply with the subpoena.
Clark reportedly sent a letter to Democratic Committee chair Bernie Thompson asserting his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.
“Even though Mr. Clark previously had the opportunity to make these claims on the record, the Select Committee will provide him another chance to do so. I have informed Mr. Clark’s attorney that I am willing to convene another deposition at which Mr. Clark can assert that privilege on a question-by-question basis, which is what the law requires of someone who asserts the privilege against self-incrimination,” Thompson said. “We have just learned that Mr. Clark has agreed to appear again to continue his deposition.”
Republican Wyoming Congresswoman Liz Cheney, the vice-chair of the committee, said the committee proceeded with the vote to send the contempt charge to the floor, but will not proceed with the charge until after Clark testifies to the committee’s satisfaction.