A leading Minnesota newspaper is joining a legal effort to unseal the divorce records of Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN), who is running for state attorney general.
The Minnesota Star Tribune, the most read newspaper in the state, said in an article it had filed a motion to unseal the records, after a similar action by Alpha News, which it described as a right-leaning online news and opinion site
Ellison and his ex-wife, Kim Ellison, divorced six years ago, with official divorce records being sealed to prevent the public from accessing their contents.
The motion by the Minnesota Star Tribune comes weeks after Ellison was accused of domestic abuse in 2016 by his ex-girlfriend, Kim Monahan.
Monahan came forward last month alleging that Ellison sent her threatening text messages and once screamed obscenities at her as he dragged her off a bed by her feet.
Ellison denies any wrongdoing.
In its article, the Minnesota Star Tribune argued that “given the public interest around that situation and Kim Ellison’s public support of her ex-husband, the divorce records are a matter of concern to voters.”
Kim Ellison said in a statement today that her ex-husband “never abused me in any way before, during, or after our marriage.”
A Hennepin County, Minn. District Judge will determine soon whether the divorce documents should be made public.
Sen. Mazie Hirono broke Sunday the Democratic Party’s silence on domestic-abuse allegations leveled a month ago against Ellison, saying that they “need to be investigated.”
“As far as Keith Ellison, these allegations need to be investigated and appropriate action taken,” the Hawaii Democrat said.