Over the weekend, allegations of domestic violence by Democratic Minnesota Congressman Keith Ellison surfaced claiming he “emotionally and physically” abused his then-longtime girlfriend Karen Monahan. The allegations were serious enough for news outlets like Fox News and CNN to cover but ABC and NBC failed to do so. And while they covered the story Monday morning, CBS dropped it come that evening.
Monday’s CBS This Morning was the only broadcast network program to report the allegations against the Congressman who was in a five-way race for the Democratic Party’s nomination for state attorney general. “The accusations come ahead of a primary tomorrow in which Ellison is running for state attorney general,” reported Bianna Golodryga in a 25-seconds long news brief. “Ellison’s ex-girlfriend Karen Monahan says the six-term Congressman dragged her off her bed by her legs and feet.”
But when it came time for the networks’ evening broadcasts, none of them found airtime for the allegations. It’s worth noting that the Minnesota primary is Tuesday (tomorrow).
Where the networks failed, Fox News’ Special Report shinned as they dedicated a full report to the allegations. “Austin Monahan, the son of Ellison’s former girlfriend, wrote on Facebook that he was using his mother's computer and found over 100 text and Twitter messages that, Austin Monahan claims were abusive and threatening,” reported correspondent Mike Tobin.
“The ex-girlfriend, Karen Monahan issued a statement detailing abusive behavior and the incident alleged on video from a day she slept late, and claims the Congressman demanded she take out the trash,” Tobin added.
According to a statement from Karen Monahan, and read by Tobin, “That's when he tried to drag me off the bed by my legs and feet screaming ‘– expletive – you answer me when I am talking to you, I said take out the trash.’” Tobin also read from a statement put out by Ellison: “The video does not exist because I never behaved in this way, any characterization otherwise is false.”
Fox News spoke with Tom Foley, one of Ellison’s opponents in the race for attorney general and a former prosecutor, who insisted the allegations needed to be taken seriously. “This is a serious domestic charges. He serves as the number two person in the Democratic National Committee. Frankly, I think he should resign from that position. I don't think he should be up there until these allegations are resolved,” he said.
While the allegations were serious, some questions still lingered. CNN, who was apparently looking into the allegations before Monahan’s son went public on Facebook, noted that “CNN has asked to view the video, but Monahan said she could not produce it.” “Monahan also said she would not want the video made public in any case, calling it ‘embarrassing,’” they added.
In addition, Spanish-language networks Univision and Telemundo also omitted any mention of the allegations against Ellison from their broadcasts.
ABC, CBS, and NBC are the same three networks that dedicated over 18 minutes to the arrest of GOP Congressman Chris Collins for insider trading while completely ignoring the corruption conviction of former Democratic Rep. Corrine Brown.
The transcripts are below, click "expand" to read:
CBS This Morning
August 13, 2018
7:50:12 a.m. Eastern [25 seconds]BIANNA GOLODRYGA: The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports Minnesota Democratic Congressman Keith Ellison denies allegations of domestic violence. The accusations come ahead of a primary tomorrow in which Ellison is running for state attorney general. Ellison’s ex-girlfriend Karen Monahan says the six-term Congressman dragged her off her bed by her legs and feet. The allegations came to light over the weekend when Monahan’s son posted about the incident on Facebook.
Fox News Channel
Special Report
August 13, 2018
6:24:14 p.m. EasternBRET BAIER: The race for Minnesota attorney general has gotten personal just hours ahead of a primary vote. An ex-girlfriend says she was emotionally and physically abused by Democratic Congressman Keith Ellison and has video to prove it. Congressman Allison, who also, by the way, is the deputy chair of the Democratic National Committee, is denying the allegations. Senior correspondent Mike Tobin has the story from our Midwest bureau.
[Cuts to video]
MIKE TOBIN: Six-term Democratic Congressman, Deputy Chair of the DNC, and front-runner for the Democratic nomination for attorney general in Minnesota, Keith Ellison is denying allegations that first republic Saturday. Austin Monahan, the son of Ellison’s former girlfriend, wrote on Facebook that he was using his mother's computer and found over 100 text and Twitter messages that, Austin Monahan claims were abusive and threatening.
Also a video “almost 2 minutes long that showed Keith Ellison dragging my mama off the bed by her feet, calling her an expletive and telling her to get the expletive out of her house.” The ex-girlfriend, Karen Monahan issued a statement detailing abusive behavior and the incident alleged on video from a day she slept late, and claims the Congressman demanded she take out the trash.
“That's when he tried to drag me off the bed by my legs and feet screaming ‘– expletive – you answer me when I am talking to you, I said take out the trash.’” Ellison issued a statement saying that he and Karen Monahan has a long-term relationship which ended in 2016, but strongly denied the abuse. “The video does not exist because I never behaved in this way, any characterization otherwise is false,” he said.
Experts say the benefit of the doubt, these days, goes to the accuser.
JOSH KRAUSHAAR: Voters I'm sure we'll have a lot questions about whether the allegations are true and the timing of the allegations. But anything involving sexual assault is going to have a big impact in a Democratic primary.
TOBIN: Ellison is one of five candidates vying for the attorney general nomination. Opponent Tom Foley, a former prosecutor says, politics aside, take the allegations seriously.
TOM FOLEY: This is a serious domestic charges. He serves as the number two person in the Democratic National Committee. Frankly, I think he should resign from that position. I don't think he should be up there until these allegations are resolved.
[Cuts back to live]
TOBIN: There’s no information that anyone outside of the Monahan family has seen the video or allegedly abusive text messages. With the primary tomorrow, this scandal hangs on statements from an ex and the social media posts of a 25-year-old.
