Rep. Keith Ellison wins Democratic primary for Attorney General
Amid abuse allegations that almost derailed his political campaign, Minnesota lawmaker Keith Ellison won the Democratic primary for Minnesota attorney general on Tuesday.
—Who runs the White House? Omarosa threatens to drop more bombs about Trump administration—
Ellison beat out Minnesota Rep. Deb Holstrom, former county prosecutor Tom Foley, Minneapolis attorney Matt Pelikan and former state Commerce Commissioner Mike Rothman to secure the party’s nomination, Huffington Post reports.
But his campaign, hit a snag last week when Ellison was accused of beating an ex-girlfriend. Ellison on Sunday denied an allegation that he had once dragged his ex off a bed while screaming obscenities at her.
Karen Monahan’s son in a Facebook post on Saturday that he uncovered hundreds of angry text messages from Ellison, which threatened his mom. Monahan’s also alleged that he had seen a video in which Ellison dragged Monahan off a bed by her feet. Monahan, a Minneapolis political organizer, confirmed via Twitter that what her son posted was “true.”
Tom Foley, a former county attorney, called for an investigation into the abuse claims.
Ellison denied the claim.
“Karen and I were in a long-term relationship which ended in 2016, and I still care deeply for her well-being,” Ellison said in a statement. “This video does not exist because I have never behaved in this way, and any characterization otherwise is false.”
With his win on Tuesday, Ellison is closer to becoming the first Muslim statewide elected official in U.S. history, according to the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
Ellison was sworn in the House in 2006 and gave up his congressional seat to run for attorney general.
“As your next attorney general, I will continue that work and fight to protect the rights and freedoms of all,” Ellison told The Star Tribune in July. “Minnesotans will know that they always have a fighter on their side.”
