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Poll: Only 5 Percent of Minnesota Democrats Believe Ellison's Accuser

Rep. Keith Ellison (D., Minn.) / Getty Images
September 21, 2018

The majority of Minnesota Democrats question the validity of domestic abuse allegations against Rep. Keith Ellison (D., Minn.), the Democratic candidate for state attorney general, made by his former girlfriend.

A poll by the Star Tribune and Minnesota Public Radio of 800 likely voters found that only 5 percent of Democrat responders believed the allegations made by Ellison's ex-girlfriend, Karen Monahan, that the congressman physically abused her as recently as 2016.

Sixty-five percent of Democrats said they were "unsure" if they believed Monahan and 30 percent said they did not believe her. In comparison, 42 percent of Republicans polled said they did believe Monahan while only 15 percent did not believe her.

On Wednesday, Monahan posted online a medical document from 2017 in which her doctor wrote of Monahan confessing past physical abuse at the hands of Ellison. Monahan also claims to have video evidence of Ellison's abuse, though she has said it is traumatic and she will not share it.

"She states that she was in a very stressful environment for years, emotional and physical abuse by a partner with whom she is now separated," Her doctor wrote in the document. "She identifies the individual she was involved with as congressman Ellison, and she is worried about retribution if she identifies him publicly."

In a previous statement defending her allegations, Monahan said she is not trying to score political points.

"I have nothing to prove to anyone, I simply shared my story. People can believe it or not. I don’t need anyone to affirm my humanity, I affirmed it," she said.

The Star Tribune/MPR poll has Ellison leading his GOP opponent, attorney Doug Wardlow, by 6 percent. Eighteen percent of respondents say they are still undecided.

In light of allegations Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh committed sexual assault 36 years ago, Monahan said she has been treated differently than Kavanaugh's accuser by the Democratic Party. She said she feels "smeared, threatened, and isolated" by her party, of which Ellison is also the national vice chairman.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) came out Monday to say he believed the allegations made by Kavanaugh's accuser, Christine Blasey Ford. Schumer, who in 2016 supported Ellison's bid to become chairman of the Democratic National Committee, has been silent on the allegations made by Monahan.

Published under: Keith Ellison , Minnesota