DFL Statement on Sworn Documents Detailing Dotseth’s Animal Abuse & Outrageous Beliefs on Slavery

Dotseth would allegedly kick and hit the family dog, and Dotseth’s ex-stepson said “He would say things like if slavery was still around today, he would have slaves.”

ST PAUL – On Sep 18th, Minnesota DFL Chair Ken Martin released the following statement regarding new reports that contemporaneous affidavits – sworn under penalty of perjury – from Rep. Dotseth’s ex-wife and her son describe how Jeff Dotseth said he would still own slaves if it were legal today and how Dotseth would kick and hit the family dog. In his affidavit, Dotseth’s ex-stepson detailed how he and Dotseth would argue about slavery: “We would often get into fights about slavery and his views on it. He would say things like if slavery was still around today, he would have slaves.”

The new reports follow explosive reports that Dotseth was arrested for domestic violence and subjected to an order for protection by a court of law, and that his ex-wife and her stepson detailed in sworn affidavits that they were repeatedly subject to vicious violence and physical abuse over many years.

DFL Chair Ken Martin: “Rep. Dotseth isn’t fit to work at an animal shelter or to serve on a school board, much less to run for reelection as a state legislator. It is completely despicable for any human being to say that they would own slaves if it were still legal. How can Minnesota Republicans stand by a candidate who has been arrested and subjected to an order for protection for engaging in domestic violence, engaged in animal abuse, and said that he would own slaves if it were still legal today?

The order for protection issued by a judge and the sworn affidavits from a mother and her child – sworn under penalty of perjury – predate Dotseth’s career in partisan politics by many years. When confronted with charges and sworn documents detailing disturbing domestic violence by other legislators, Minnesota Republicans have called for swift and severe consequences. If they aren’t willing to apply the same standard to Rep. Dotseth, they owe it to the public to explain their hypocrisy.”