Minnesota Rep. Keith Ellison Denies Domestic Violence Accusation

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — Democratic congressman and current candidate for Minnesota attorney general Keith Ellison has denied an allegation that he physically abused his ex-girlfriend. A man claiming to be the son of Karen Monahan, who was in a relationship with Ellison for years, posted the allegation on Facebook Saturday.

"My brother and I watched our mom come out of pure hell after getting out of her relationship with Keith Ellison," Austin Aslim Monahan wrote.

He added: "We watched her so called political friends stand by say or do nothing."

The 25-year-old said in 2017 he discovered a video that showed Ellison "dragging" his mom off a bed by her feet. The alleged video has not yet been released.

"We were ready to go public but our mom begged us not to and she along with others convinced us it wasn’t in our moms best interest," Monahan added.

Ellison flatly denied the allegation Saturday.

"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," he added.

The allegation against Ellison had been circulating in Minnesota before Saturday. However, no stories were published because it did not hold up under media scrutiny, according to reporter Dave Weigel of The Washington Post.

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Minnesota Public Radio reviewed more than 100 texts and Twitter messages between Ellison and Karen Monahan and reported there was no evidence in them of physical abuse.

Ellison divorced his wife, Kim, prior to his relationship with Monahan. Kim issued a statement in Ellison's defense Sunday.

"We may be divorced, but we are still a family," she said. "I want members of our community to know that the behavior described does not match the character of the Keith I know."

Ellison, who has been a member of Congress since 2007, withdrew his reelection campaign earlier this year to run for Minnesota attorney general.

Ellison is the second high-profile politician from Minnesota to face allegations of misconduct in the past year. In January, ex-Sen. Al Franken resigned after a slew of sexual harassment claims were made against him

Minnesota's primary is Tuesday.

Photo: Democratic National Committee Deputy Chair Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) (R) talks to reporters as he leaves a House Democratic caucus meeting at the U.S. Capitol February 8, 2018 in Washington, DC. Support from Democrats for a federal budget deal struck by leaders in the Senate will be key in getting the legislation through the House and prevent a government shutdown. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)