Says Stephen Montemayor for the Star Tribune, “The Minnesota DFL on Monday referred an internal report on a domestic abuse claim against Keith Ellison to local authorities for further investigation, after an attorney hired by the party found the claim could not be substantiated. The decision promises to keep alive lingering allegations against the Democratic candidate for attorney general, who has denied that he tried to drag a former girlfriend off a bed by her legs and feet during a fight in 2016.”
At MPR, Briana Bierschbach says, “The investigation took weeks and included messages, doctor’s notes and interviews with Ellison, Monahan and others. It was expected to be released this week, but DFL Party Chair Ken Martin said Monday the allegation needs further review. ‘We understand the public’s desire for definitive answers in this matter, but absent substantiated evidence that proves the claim or definitive exculpatory evidence, we believe it is prudent to ask law enforcement authorities to review the information as a final step in this process,’ he said in a statement.”
Mark Rosen is retiring, says WCCO-TV: “And so the time has come for Rosen to share the news that he has decided to retire from WCCO. ‘My book said it best, I’ve had the best seat in the house for so many years. I’m thankful for the opportunity and the trust of Minnesota’s die-hard sports fans,’ Rosen said. The guy with the ‘Best Seat in the House’ has been in your house since 1969. That’s 50 years bringing us the most compelling sports stories of our time. He was still a high school junior when he started, and was hired full time while attending the University of Minnesota.”
Says Chao Xiong of the Strib, “A Ramsey County sheriff’s deputy investigating a student’s alleged school shooting threat that revealed an arsenal of weapons at a Vadnais Heights home testified Monday that a top school official believed that the threat was not credible, but that she didn’t include the information in a search warrant. Deputy Jessica O’Hern could not remember the school official’s name during her testimony, and when she tried to refresh her memory by reviewing her reports, revealed that she had not recorded the name.”
Says Tim Blotz at KMSP-TV, “After a long wait and a lot of political infighting, we can all start applying to get a REAL ID driver’s license. However, there’s a lot of documentation needed, so the state of Minnesota is asking residents to give it some time before applying for the new license. The federal government has given residents two years to get a REAL ID license. So, not everyone needs to run out and get one right away unless your license is up for renewal.”
At the PiPress, Ryan Faircloth writes, “A look at the issues in the First and Eighth districts shows each race could hinge on recent decisions by the Trump administration, and on the popularity of the president himself. President Donald Trump’s ongoing trade war with China has squeezed U.S. farmers, and his administration’s ruling on mineral leasing near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness has been met with mixed reactions.”
A WCCO-TV story says, “Officials in the east metro say a suspected drunk driver collided early Monday morning with an ambulance and a squad car. No one was hurt. The Maplewood Police Department says the crash happened around 2:20 a.m. on Highway 120, just north of County Road 14. The alleged drunk driver was traveling south in the wrong lane and sideswiped both the ambulance and the Maplewood squad when they attempted to swerve out of the way. The State Patrol reports that the suspected drunk driver was 27-year-old Jeffrey Bradley Ramond, of Maplewood.”
At MPR, Cody Nelson reports, “A former FBI special agent who worked on the Jacob Wetterling investigation in its earliest stages will address the Stearns County sheriff’s recent scathing criticism of how law enforcement handled the boy’s 1989 kidnapping in rural St. Joseph, Minn. Steve Gilkerson on Tuesday morning will address ‘speculative conclusions’ Stearns County Sheriff Don Gudmundson made late last last month as authorities released a trove of documents relating to the investigation. … the FBI files remain sealed. … Part of Gilkerson’s press conference on Tuesday in Minneapolis will include ‘detailing’ the FBI’s role in the investigation.”
In the PiPress Frederick Melo writes. “St. Paul’s restaurants and convenience stores may soon have to ditch their foam and plastic-lined take-out containers. Worried about the impact on small businesses, the St. Paul City Council shot down a proposed ban on non-recyclable to-go containers in October 2017, while promising to revisit the issue in a year. The year is up. On Wednesday, the city council is scheduled to once again consider the ‘Sustainable To-Go Food Packaging Ordinance’ — a proposal that would require all restaurants and convenience stores to offer to-go foods in take-out containers that can be recycled or composted.”
Is there an attitude showing? WCCO uses the term suspected or alleged drunk driver three times in a short paragraph. A basic attempt at editing would have changed the second and third references to “driver.” The point was made the driver is allegedly “drunk” so repeating the reference is not only redundant but makes him seem less “alleged” in the listener’s mind.
Unlike the Kavanaugh mess and other cases, its very easy to get to the bottom of the Ellison case. She says she has video of physical abuse. He denies it. This (allegedly) ocurred fairly recently., and does not involve the parties being extremely drunk. Someone is lying. Either Ellison is lying or Monahan is lying.
If she doesn’t want the tape released to the public, have it reviewed by by an independent person/people who agree not to re-release it or reveal details. They can answer whether there is a tape that shows abuse. If its yes, then Ellison should drop out. If its no, then that should be the absolute end of the discussion.
Many women say they should not have to be humiliated further by anyone seeing them abused. I would like to better understand your perspective. Are you a Mr or a Ms?
Your question implies that the writer’s gender dictates his or her position. Doesn’t it?
My perspective is as someone who supports victims who speak out, but also believes in fairness and due process. My perspective is formed in part by my work as a lawyer, where I have represented people who were wrongfully accused of criminal charges and also victims of domestic violence in family cases.
Put yourself in Keith Ellison’s position. If I say I have evidence that Howard Salute beats women and should quit his job and be publicly ostracized, but I don’t want to share that evidence, how will you react? Will you quit your job? Will you go into hiding? I sure hope not.
Ellison says it did not happen and so there is no video. She says there is. Someone is lying. Should Ellison quit even if he’a not the liar? Should he say, even though this can be easily resolved, we should believe women so I’ll accept guilt for something I didn’t do?
Monahan didn’t have to bring up the video. But she did, and the fact (or allegation) that there is a video bolstered her claim. To use the video in that manner but to refuse to produce it is absurd. You can use tactic to attack anyone. And maybe that’s the point. After all, Monahan is being represented by Doug Wardlow’s (Ellison’s opponent) former law partner.
No one needs to be humiliated. The public need not ever see it, only a neutral party. Someone in law enforcement (who will ask to see the tape if they pick up the investigation) or a judge. It can be a woman or women. Just someone who can independently verify if there is a video and what is on it. To condemn Ellison because Monahan is unwilling to take that simple step and claim that women shouldn’t have to provide evidence they claim is there is positively Orwellian.