Democratic National Committee chair Tom Perez[1] ran into trouble Sunday after insisting that the party has “never hesitated to take action” on misconduct allegations against Democratic officials, including DNC deputy chair Keith Ellison[2].
Mr. Perez[3] defended the DNC’s refusal to call for the resignation of Mr. Ellison[4] over his ex-girlfriend’s domestic-abuse accusation, arguing that the Democratic Party has a better record of dealing with such charges than does the GOP.
“What I say is that we should always take those complaints seriously and we do, and that’s why an investigation was conducted, that’s why Congressman Ellison[5] asked for a House Ethics investigation,” Mr. Perez[6] told CNN’s Jake Tapper. “And Democrats have never hesitated to take action, unlike Republicans.”
An incredulous Tapper responded, “Wait a second, Democrats have never hesitated to take action? Do you mean in the last year, or do you mean historically? Because historically, I could go through a list of people.”
Mr. Perez[7] cited the December 2017 resignation of Sen. Al Franken, Minnesota Democrat, over allegations of groping and inappropriate conduct, arguing that “Democrats didn’t hesitate to do something even it was difficult, because it was the right thing to do.”
Mr. Tapper replied, “Oh, you mean like in the last year. You’re not talking about Ted Kennedy or President Bill Clinton or — I only have a couple minutes left.”
Mr. Perez[8] acknowledged that he was only referring to the Democratic Party’s record under his tenure.
“Jake, I’ve been chair of the Democratic National Committee for 18 months,” he said on “State of the Union.”
.@jaketapper presses DNC Chairman @TomPerez on allegations of domestic abuse against Rep. Keith Ellison, the deputy chair of the DNC. https://t.co/VUD5moDDMF[9][10][11][12]
— State of the Union (@CNNSotu) November 4, 2018[13]
The exchange underlined the Democratic Party’s ongoing dilemma in backing
Mr. Ellison[14]’s bid for Minnesota attorney general even as Democrats push to frame the 2018 midterms as a historic “year of the woman” election. Mr. Ellison[15] has acknowledged a long-term relationship with Ms. Monahan but adamantly denied her claim that he dragged her from bed and screamed obscenities at her in 2016.Even so, the allegation has dogged his campaign and left other Democrats vulnerable to charges of hypocrisy for supporting him but not other men accused of misconduct, starting with Supreme Court Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh.
Polls show the congressman, who gave up his seat to run for AG, locked in a dead heat with former Republican state Rep. Doug Wardlow, who has blasted
Mr. Ellison[16] over the allegations.An Oct. 23 survey by the Minneapolis Star Tribune/MPR News showed Mr. Wardlow leading by 7...