“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.
Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) on Sunday denied allegations posted on social media accounts linked to the family of his former girlfriend that he had behaved abusively towards her.
Ellison, who is battling four challengers for his party’s nomination in the race for Minnesota attorney general, spoke out through his campaign after a Facebook post alleging past abuse began circulating. The post came from the son of his former girlfriend Karen Monahan.
The post from Austin Monahan’s account, also shared on Twitter by one of Ellison’s challengers in the attorney general race, described video he claimed to have seen showing Ellison “dragging my mama off the bed by her feet, screaming and calling her” profane names.
The six-term House Democrat, who is also deputy chair of the Democratic National Committee, issued a statement through his campaign denying the existence of the video portrayed in Austin Monahan’s Facebook post.
“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 never behaved in this way, and any characterization otherwise is false.”
Monahan, however, posted on her own social media account standing by her son’s depiction.
“What my son said is true. Every statement he made was true,” Monahan tweeted. Addressing Ellison, she added. “you know you did that to me. I have given every opportunity to get help and heal. Even now, u r willing to say my son is lying and have me continue to leak more text and info just so others will believe him.”
Ellison’s own Twitter account depicts several outings with Monahan, identified as a Sierra Club organizer on the group’s website. Monahan did not respond to attempts to contact her on Sunday.
Two of Ellison’s opponents in the Democratic-Farmer-Labor primary in the state attorney general’s race, Debra Hilstrom and Tom Foley, urged Ellison to address Monahan’s allegations earlier on Sunday. Ballots will be cast on Tuesday in the race, with Ellison seen as the favorite.
A spokeswoman for the DNC did not respond to a request for comment.
