Sex Trafficking Charges Spark Rift Within MN Republican Party

MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota Republicans are calling on their party chairwoman, Jennifer Carnahan, to step down after a state GOP operative was indicted on federal child sex trafficking charges.

Anton Lazzaro, 30, was arrested and charged Thursday with one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors, five counts of sex trafficking of minors, one count of attempted sex trafficking of a minor, and three counts of obstruction.

Lazzaro is currently in custody at the Sherburne County Jail. No bail has been set. His detention hearing is Monday.

A second person with ties to the Republican Party — 19-year-old University of St. Thomas Republican chair Gisela C. Medina — was arrested in the same case in Florida on Thursday. She was charged Monday with one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors, five counts of sex trafficking of minors, and one count of obstruction.

Carnahan, who co-hosted a podcast with Lazzaro, said in a statement Friday that the state Republican Party "will be donating the contributions that Mr. Lazzaro has given our organization to charity."

Carnahan forced state Republican staffers to sign nondisclosure agreements to stifle criticism of her, sources told the Minnesota Reformer. However, since Thursday, a growing number of state Republican officials have called on Carnahan to resign.

"I did not know Anthony Lazzaro, but, I know that sex trafficking has exploded and we collectively have an obligation to stop it," Republican state Rep. Marion O'Neill said Sunday.

"Regarding his connection to the party, it's disgusting. He is the worst humanity has to offer. He offends me to my core. He is exactly the evil I have been fighting for my entire time in office. If Jennifer Carnahan didn't have the wisdom to recognize the evil that lurks within, she is not fit to lead."

"What is happening within Minnesota Republican politics right now is abhorrent," said Republican state Sen. Julia Coleman.

"Regarding Chair Carnahan, I believe it is in the best interest of the Party that she step down and let us move forward. The questions surrounding her actions make it impossible for her to effectively serve as chair any longer."

Carnahan has resisted calls to step down. A statement from the Republican Party on Sunday addressed "unfounded accusations against the Chairwoman in recent days for those in the party that hoped to unseat her in her re-election on April 10th."

As of Monday, no state Republicans have publicly come to Carnahan's defense.