Pressure is continuing to build against Keith Ellison over two domestic-violence accusations he is facing, but the former congressman shows no signs of dropping out of the race for Minnesota’s attorney general.
On Tuesday, the House’s second highest-ranking Democrat Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD-05) called the accusations very “serious,” but stipulated that Ellison has done nothing to “indicate violent behavior.”
Before his August primary, Ellison’s ex-girlfriend Karen Monahan accused her former partner of domestic violence, saying he forcibly dragged her off a bed while shouting obscenities at her. Around the same time, a similar story from 2005 began to resurface, though this time there was a police report indicating Ellison was reported for assaulting a woman.
Ellison’s daughter later joined the fight, smearing her father’s accuser as an unhinged Democratic staffer who is “exploiting a movement.” Monahan promptly responded to the claims, saying Ellison knows his daughter’s “statements are not true.”
“Defamation of character is wrong. As a father he should protect her and encourage her to be truthful. His action created this pain for his family,” she tweeted.
Republicans are using the accusations against their opponents in just about every major race in the state, since most Democratic candidates refuse to answer questions about Ellison.
At a recent campaign event, Ellison was confronted by activist Laura Loomer, who recorded Ellison running away from her as she questioned him about the accusations. Later in the video, Ellison’s car is surrounded by a group of female protesters, shouting slogans such as “me too” and “we do not want an AG like you” at his car as he drives away.
A similar incident occurred in August when DNC Chairman Tom Perez ran away from a reporter who questioned him about the Ellison accusations.
Ellison will face off against Republic Doug Wardlow, who continues to claim that Ellison is not actually licensed to practice law in the state.
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Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of The Minnesota Sun. Follow Anthony on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
