Minneapolis Police Refuse To Investigate Claims Against Rep. Ellison

The Minneapolis Police Department is referring claims that Rep. Keith Ellison assaulted one of his ex-girlfriends to another jurisdiction, citing conflicts of interest, according to local reports Wednesday.

The Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party asked the department to look into claims in August that the Minnesota Democrat dragged local activist Karen Monahan off a bed when the two were dating. A county prosecutor declined to review a report the party commissioned that did not substantiate the allegation.

“Due to a conflict of interest, or the appearance of a conflict of interest, the Minneapolis Police Department will not be handling the matter involving Congressman Keith Ellison,” the police said in a statement. “The Minneapolis Police Department is in communication with other law enforcement agencies who we may refer this case to.”

Minneapolis City Attorney Susan Segal gave the report to Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom to avoid a conflict of interest given Ellison’s son serves on the Minneapolis City Council. (RELATED: Democrats Keith Ellison Investigation Concludes Abuse Allegation ‘Unsubstantiated’: Report)

Backstrom told Segal that his office would not “review any investigation completed by the law firm retained by the Minnesota DFL Party or any other private investigator without the completion of an investigation by a law enforcement agency.”

Monahan’s refusal to produce a video she claimed proved Ellison’s alleged abuse led Minnesota attorney Susan Ellingstad “to conclude that the allegation is unsubstantiated,” according to a draft version of Ellingstad’s report obtained by The Associated Press.

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