- The Washington Times - Thursday, October 4, 2018

The Kavanaugh uproar has brought domestic-abuse allegations against Rep. Keith Ellison back into the spotlight, but the Minnesota Democrat insisted Wednesday that there are “no similarities” between the two cases.

Asked by WCCO radio’s Dave Lee if he “saw similarities” between his situation and that of Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh, Mr. Ellison replied, “Absolutely not.”

“There are no similarities,” Mr. Ellison told the Minneapolis talk-show host. “Every case is separate and different. Every case has its own facts. Every case needs to be evaluated on its own facts.”

Mr. Ellison, who has given up his congressional seat to run for Minnesota attorney general, argued that some of those comparing the two are pushing a political agenda.

“For people to try to mix this situation and that one, they’re just making a mistake, or they have political motives in doing so,” Mr. Ellison said. “I’ll simply say that the cases are completely different and need to be evaluated differently, separately.”

Mr. Ellison has denied allegations of “emotional and physical abuse” made by ex-girlfriend Karen Monahan, who said in August that he dragged her from a bed and screamed obscenities at her in a September 2016 incident.

Democrats have been accused of a double standard for remaining largely mum on the claims against Mr. Ellison while excoriating Judge Kavanaugh, who has denied sexually assaulting Christine Blasey Ford when they were teenagers 36 years ago.

An investigation by an attorney hired by the Minnesota Democratic-Labor-Farmer Party found that Ms. Monahan’s allegations were “unsubstantiated,” but the probe’s neutrality has been called into question.

Republican attorney general candidate Doug Wardlow dismissed the inquiry as a “sham,” given that it was conducted by Susan Ellingstad, law partner of DFL attorney Charlie Nauen, while Mr. Ellison referred to her probe as an “independent investigation.”

“She talked to all the witnesses, reviewed every document, and went through the information,” Mr. Ellison said. “And people can read it for themselves to determine whether they think it was a thorough and good job, but I think it was.”

Last week, Mr. Ellison said he has asked the House Ethics Committee to investigate the allegations against him. In 2006, Amy Alexander accused him of pushing her and breaking her screen door, which he has denied.

The congressman also said that he’s weighing whether to remain as Democratic National Committee deputy chair.

“I’ve been evaluating that recently, and we’ll see,” Mr. Ellison said. “I need to put 100 percent of my time, energy and resources into the race and into my office, and so that is something I’m taking consideration on.”

• Valerie Richardson can be reached at vrichardson@washingtontimes.com.

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