Keith Ellison Facts: Minnesota Rep Denies Abuse Claims From Ex-Girlfriend Karen Monahan

Minnesota Democratic Rep. Keith Ellison responded Sunday to allegations of abuse from his ex-girlfriend Karen Monahan saying he "never behaved in this way." The allegations surfaced Saturday night from Monahan's son who claimed to have seen a video showing Ellison threatening her and dragging her off a bed by her feet.

On Sunday, Monahan confirmed what her son posted on Facebook was the truth. She accused Ellison of emotional and physical abuse, saying: "You know you did that to me." The Twitter account from which Monahan responded also posted purported text messages sent between her and Ellison from December 2017.

In his Facebook post, 25-year-old Austin Monahan wrote: "My brother and I watched our mom come out of pure hell after getting out of her relationship with Keith Ellison."

"In the middle of 2017, I was using my moms computer trying to download something and I clicked on a file, I found over 100 text and twitter messages and video almost 2 min long that showed Keith Ellison dragging my mama off the bed by her feet, screaming and calling her a 'f------- b----' and telling her to get the f--- out of his house," Austin wrote in the lengthy post.

"The messages I found, were mixed with him consistently telling my mom he wanted her back, he missed her, he knew he f----- up and wished he could do things different, he would victim shaming, bully her, and threaten her if she went public. I text him and told him I know what you did to my mama and a few other things."

A spokesman for Ellison's campaign also denied the congressman had sent threatening text messages.

"Karen and I were in a long-term relationship which ended in 2016, and I still care deeply for her well-being," Ellison said in a statement. "This video does not exist because I have never behaved in this way, and any characterization otherwise is false."

Minnesota Public Radio News reported Sunday that it reviewed more than 100 text and Twitter messages between Ellison and Monahan. The messages showed the two communicated over months after their breakup.

Ellison, who divorced Kim Ellison in 2012, is a six-term congressman and a leader within the Democratic Party. He became deputy chairman of the Democratic National Committee last year after falling just short of the top job. He announced this summer he would not seek re-election and would run instead for state attorney general. Ellison was considered the heavy favorite heading into Tuesday's primary.

Ellison's Democratic opponents also responded to the allegations, with State Rep. Debra Hilstrom calling the allegations "troubling."

Tom Foley, a former county attorney, urged that any video or messages related to the incident must be turned over to law enforcement for an "immediate investigation."