Democratic National Committee (DNC) chairman Tom Perez is refusing to state whether or not he believes the recent domestic-violence allegations leveled against his right-hand-man Keith Ellison.
In a recent video first obtained by The Daily Caller News Foundation, Perez is shown running away as he is asked if he believes “the allegations against Keith Ellison.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xcglLBOn38
“Why haven’t you asked Keith Ellison to step down while the review is being conducted? These are pretty serious things that deserve serious answers,” the man recording asks while Perez is escorted into a private office by his staff. Throughout the video, Perez not once addresses the questions, nor does he even acknowledge that they are being asked.
In an interview with CBSN that appears to have been conducted that same day, Perez places responsibility for investigating the allegations on the Minnesota Democratic Party, though the DNC previously claimed that it would review the matter.
“These allegations recently came to light and we are reviewing them. All allegations of domestic abuse are disturbing and should be taken seriously,” the DNC told NPR in a statement.
“We take all allegations of sexual misconduct very, very seriously and that is something we’ve always done, and that’s something we’ll continue to do. That’s why the matter is under review,” Perez said in the interview, saying the “Minnesota Democratic Party is conducting a very thorough investigation, and a very prompt investigation.”
“I’m confident that that review will be completed in the near future. I think it’s important to do that,” Perez responded, saying nothing of the alleged DNC investigation and dodging reporters’ questions about whether he thinks Ellison should step aside.
Before winning his August primary for Minnesota attorney general, Ellison was accused by ex-girlfriend Karen Monahan of forcibly dragging her off a bed while shouting obscenities. Monahan claims there is video of the incident, but has yet to produce any physical evidence.
“Karen and I were in a long-term relationship, which ended in 2016, and I still care deeply for her well-being. This video does not exist because I have never behaved in this way, and any characterization otherwise is false,” Ellison said in a statement, before going on to easily win his primary. Ellison, who stepped down from Congress to run for Minnesota’s top law enforcement position, will face off against Republic Doug Wardlow in November’s election.
