The Minnesota DFL Party, which supported accused domestic abuser Keith Ellison in his run for attorney general, criticized a Republican lawmaker Thursday for “trivializing the severity of domestic abuse.”
Ellison was accused of domestic abuse in 2018 by Karen Monahan, an ex-girlfriend who spent several years volunteering for the DFL. Despite the allegations, Chairman Ken Martin and his party stood by Ellison in the race for attorney general.
A police report from 2005 appears to show that the police were called on Ellison that year after he assaulted a woman.
The DFL launched an investigation into the allegations against Ellison and hired external investigator Susan Ellingstad to conduct the review. Ellingstad, a Democratic donor and legal partner with the DFL’s lead attorney, concluded that the claims against Ellison were “unsubstantiated.”
Her report stated that there were at least three witnesses who offered testimony corroborating Monahan’s story. The three witnesses all said that Monahan came to them after the incident and told them about Ellison’s actions.
In a Thursday tweet, the party criticized state Rep. Mary Franson (R-Alexandria) for comparing “Minnesota government workers trying their best to save lives during a pandemic to domestic abusers.”
“We can disagree about the best path forward without trivializing the severity of domestic abuse,” the DFL said on Twitter.
.@RepMaryFranson, comparing Minnesota government workers trying their best to save lives during a pandemic to domestic abusers is absolutely unacceptable.
We can disagree about the best path forward without trivializing the severity of domestic abuse. Do better. #mnleg pic.twitter.com/Ynsv6jiuho
— Minnesota DFL Party (@MinnesotaDFL) May 21, 2020
The statement was issued in response to Franson’s suggestion that Minnesotans who support Gov. Tim Walz’s coronavirus restrictions have “Stockholm Syndrome.”
“These people have bonded with their abuser (government) and they can’t think rationally,” she said. “It’s sad.”
Monahan continues to use her platform to speak out about domestic violence and criticized Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith Thursday for their hypocrisy on the issue.
“You, Tina Smith, were implicit in domestic violence, along with Amy Klobuchar, when I broke my silence regarding the abusive relationship with Keith Ellison,” she said on Twitter. “You are using this issue as a tool for your interest. It’s wrong.”
You, @TinaSmithMN
, were implicit in domestic violence, along with @SenAmyKlobuchar
, when I broke my silence regarding the abusive relationship with Keith Ellison. You are using this issue as a tool for your interest. It’s wrong! https://t.co/uSuI2WM0kv— Karen Monahan (@KarenMonahan01) May 21, 2020
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Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of The Minnesota Sun and The Ohio Star. Follow Anthony on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
