Rep. Ellison talks domestic abuse allegations, New York Times op-ed in Fox 9 interview

(KMSP) - U.S. Representative Keith Ellison stopped by Fox 9 Morning News Sunday for an interview with Leah Beno. 

During the interview, Rep. Ellison addressed the domestic abuse allegations made by a former girlfriend. He said he is "compliant fully" to a DFL investigation into their relationship, saying "I think it's very important to do so, and I stand by the process." 

"I'm absolutely committed to the MeToo movement," he said. "I think that it's important that literally millions of women over thousands of years have not been heard. I am committed to lifting up the voices of women who have had to face difficulty in terms of harassment and discrimination, but we are moving forward." 

Ellison went on to say that he isn't hearing much from voters on the campaign trail about the allegations, instead, mostly issues about healthcare and student debt. 

"That's why I'm running for Attorney General," he said. "That's why I jumped out of what people called a pretty safe seat into a fairly...statewide race, where anything can happen, because I have a burning passion to stand up for people who are facing the special interests and need an advocate on their side." 

Ellison discussed the Judge Brett Kavanaugh Supreme Court confirmation hearings, calling Sen. Cory Booker's disclosure of confidential documents "bold" and "courageous." 

Finally, Ellison discussed the anonymous New York Times op-ed written by a senior level White House official that criticized the President and assured that officials inside were actively resisting parts of the President's agenda. 

I didn’t hear anybody complain when $1.5 trillion tax cut for the wealthiest Americans was gifted by the President and Republicans in the Senate, I didn’t hear anybody in the cabinet say, wait a minute, is this the right thing to do? I didn’t hear them say anything when Betsy Devos made it tougher on students or when Ben Carson is not doing anything in the middle of a housing crisis. Yet, this person anonymously steps up and says, don’t worry about it, we are minding the store even if the president is not. It just doesn’t give me any comfort at all. This country would be better served if the author would just reveal who they are, make their criticisms public and quit.

Next week, Fox 9 welcomes on Ellison's opponent in the Attorney General's race, Doug Wardlow.