Conflict of Interest? Police Refuse to Investigate Keith Ellison

Citing conflict of interest, the Minneapolis Police Department refused to investigate the assault claims against Keith Ellison, Wednesday.  Instead, they are referring the case to others. 

Star Tribune has more: 

Earlier Wednesday, the DFL asked Minneapolis police to investigate after both a city attorney and a county prosecutor declined to review a report the party commissioned that did not substantiate the allegation.

Ellison’s former girlfriend, Karen Monahan, alleges that the Democratic candidate for attorney general tried to drag her off a bed during a fight in August 2016. He denies it.

“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,” read a police statement. It said the department is in communication with other law enforcement agencies to which it may refer the case. Ellison’s son, Jeremiah Ellison, is a member of the Minneapolis City Council.

Charlene Briner, a senior adviser for the DFL, had told the Star Tribune that the party sent its investigative report to the Minneapolis Police Department and requested it “investigate the claims described in the report to determine whether any criminal conduct occurred.”

It is unclear whether any investigation will actually take place.