Ellison, Trying to Clear Name, Calls for Investigation Into Abuse Claims

Rep. Keith Ellison, a progressive Democrat from Minnesota and deputy chair of the Democratic Party, has asked the House Ethics Committee to investigate recent allegations of abuse made against him by a former girlfriend.

Ellison, who is also running for state attorney general in Minnesota, made the announcement Wednesday in a statement shared with media outlets. In the statement, Ellison again denied the allegations but called for an investigation nonetheless in an attempt to clear his name, he said.

“I am taking this step now because I am innocent and eager to see this entire matter resolved,” Ellison said. “These allegations have lingered in the public sphere, and remain unsubstantiated. I welcome an investigation by the House to allow us to move on.”

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said she supported Ellison’s call for a House ethics probe.

“It is essential that due process be respected and that all involved are given the opportunity to be heard,” Pelosi said in a statement Wednesday.

Ellison’s request comes about one month after his former girlfriend, an environmental political organizer named Karen Monahan, publicly accused him of emotional abuse and said he once tried to drag her off a bed while shouting profanities at her. She said initially that she possessed a cellphone video of the incident but has declined to share it, saying that victims should not be forced to prove their claims.

“Four people, including my supervisor at the time, stated that I came to them after and shared the exact story I shared publicly, I shared multiple text between me and Keith, where I discuss the abuse with him and much more,” Monahan tweeted recently. “As I said before, I knew I wouldn’t be believed.”

Republicans, and some state Democrats, have seized on the allegations against Ellison, particularly as he attempts to win the Minnesota attorney general position in November. Ellison has said he’s been cooperating with an independent investigation into the matter, in addition to calling for the House Ethics Committee to investigate the allegations.

Still, the ongoing questions may not deter Ellison from ascending to the attorney general post. In August, he won the Democratic Primary by about 30 points just days after the allegations had surfaced. Recent polling shows Ellison also holds a lead — albeit slim — against his Republican opponent in November.