MN GOP Chair Resigns, Says Facts Will 'Prove My Innocence'

MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota Republican Party Chair Jennifer Carnahan resigned Thursday night, a week after a major GOP donor and operative was indicted on federal child sex trafficking charges.

Carnahan faced calls from within her own party to step down after Anton Lazzaro, 30, was arrested and charged 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.

Before Carnahan resigned Thursday, she voted to give herself three months salary — about $38,000 — as severance, the Star Tribune reports.

"Our party has face difficult circumstances this past week with the indictment of one of our party’s major donors for the heinous acts of sex trafficking and obstruction of justice," Carnahan said in a news release.

"I want to be very clear in unequivocally stating I had no knowledge or involvement in those activities. I trust that justice will be served, and he will spend the rest of his life in prison."

Carnahan co-hosted a podcast with Lazzaro in 2019 and early 2020.

The party chair went on the defensive in her resignation statement, noting that "in the past few days, numerous allegations have been swirling regarding sexual harassment claims and allegations of which I had no knowledge."

"It is unfortunate that the mob mentality has come out in this way to defame, tarnish, and attempt to ruin my personal and professional reputation," she wrote. "I am confident a full investigation will uncover the facts and prove my innocence."

Carnahan said that while she is innocent, she believe's it's in the best interest of her party and her own mental health to resign.

Gisela C. Medina — the chair of the College Republicans at the University of St. Thomas — was also charged with federal child sex trafficking crimes.

Read more: St. Thomas College Republican Chair Charged With Sex Trafficking