The Washington Post Fact-Checker has given Rep. Keith Ellison (D., Minn.), the vice-chairman of the Democratic National Committee, its highest rating for falsehoods after the congressman claimed his relationship Louis Farrakhan ended in 2006.
Ellison has claimed recently that he does not really know Nation of Islam leader Farrakhan, who has made numerous anti-Semitic comments. However, there have been multiple instances in the past few years where the two have been at the same event.
The Post highlights a meeting with Ellison and Farrakhan at an Islamic Center in Falls Church, Virginia between 2010 and 2013, a dinner Ellison attended for the Iranian President in 2013 that Farrakhan also attended, and a private 2016 meeting between Farrakhan, Ellison and Rep. André Carson (D., Ind.) in a hotel suite.
Despite Ellison's claims that he had "disavowed" Farrakhan, Ellison has had numerous run-ins with him and has not had much of an explanation for any of these instances.
"Carson at least acknowledged he met with Farrakhan to discuss issues related to community concerns," the Post says. "Ellison is trying to have it both ways, publicly distancing himself while privately doing something else. He earns Four Pinocchios for suggesting his interactions with Farrakhan ended in 2006."