Keith Ellison denies allegations of domestic abuse

The Democratic congressman is being accused of domestic violence by the son of an environmental activist

Published August 12, 2018 8:30PM (EDT)

 (APAP Photo/Lauren Victoria Burke, File)
(APAP Photo/Lauren Victoria Burke, File)

Rep. Keith Ellison is under fire over a Facebook post alleging he physically and emotionally abused a former girlfriend. The Minnesota Democrat has emphatically denied the allegations, but local politicians are calling on him to address the allegations.

Ellison, who is the co-chair of the Democratic National Committee, is currently running to be Minnesota's attorney general. The progressive leader chose to vacate his seat in Congress to pursue the state position. A primary is being held Tuesday to determine who the Democratic nominee will be in the attorney general race.

The allegations on Facebook were made by the son of Karen Monahan, an organizer for the Sierra Club.

Austin Monahan alleged that Ellison was emotionally abusive during the relationship and that there was even video of him attacking Karen. No video has been produced.

MPR News reviewed hundreds of text messages between Monahan and Ellison that confirm the two were in a relationship. The communications also suggest there was a rough break up. However, MPR News reported that Monahan and Ellison were, at times, friendly with one another after the relationship had ended. None of the texts mentioned any acts of violence that Monahan's son mentioned on Facebook.

Ellison has denied any wrongdoing.

"Karen and I were in a long-term relationship which ended in 2016, and I still care deeply for her well-being," he said in a statement. "This video does not exist because I never behaved in this way, and any characterization otherwise is false."

Monahan, meanwhile, has confirmed that her son's Facebook post is true.


By Taylor Link

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Democratic Party Domestic Violence Keith Ellison #metoo Minnesota