Minnesota’s Star Tribune has filed a lawsuit to unseal the divorce records of Democratic Rep. Keith Ellison, a motion that comes following domestic abuse accusations from Ellison’s ex-girlfriend, Karen Monahan.
Ellison, who is also deputy chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and the state’s Democratic nominee for attorney general, divorced his wife, Kim Ellison, in 2012.
The related records have been sealed, the Star Tribune reports, so the public is unable to access the information.
The Star Tribune, the state’s most read newspaper, said its move followed a similar action by Alpha News, which the Star described as a right-leaning online news and opinion site.
The motion to unseal the records comes after allegations from Monahan, Ellison’s ex-girlfriend, that the congressman violently dragged her off a bed and yelled “Bitch, get the f*** out of my house” in a heated argument the couple allegedly had in 2016. (RELATED: Keith Ellison’s Accuser, Karen Monahan, Says The Democratic Party Doesn’t Believe Her)
Ellison has denied Monahan’s allegations, but she has been vocal, mostly on Twitter, about the domestic abuse she claims she suffered while dating him.
Monahan posted pictures on Twitter on Sept. 19 of a doctor’s report that shows she alleged “emotional and physical abuse” from Ellison in November 2017.
The day before, Monahan tweeted that the Democratic Party, her own party, does not believe her allegations against Ellison the same way swaths of people have gathered behind Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, the woman accusing Judge Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assaulting her in high school.
The Star Tribune says given the public interest surrounding the case as well as the fact that Kim Ellison still stands behind her ex-husband, “the divorce records are a matter of concern to voters.”
Ellison’s campaign released a statement on behalf of the previously married couple, which states, “Our divorce simply isn’t the public’s business, and therefore, when we separated, we jointly asked the court to seal the file,” according to the Star Tribune’s report.
“Now, one month before a closely contested election for Minnesota Attorney General, a conservative group wants to probe our divorce file in search of something to use against Keith in this race,” the statement added. “I am disappointed that the Star Tribune would choose to file this motion.”
Kim Ellison also told the Star Tribune that Keith never abused her in any way, and unsealing the documents would invade the privacy of their children.
Carla Kjellberg will be filing a joint opposition to the Star Tribune’s motion on behalf of both Keith and Kim Ellison.
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