Embattled GOP Chairwoman Speaks Publicly For First Time

(KNSI) – The embattled chair of Minnesota’s Republican Party is speaking out for the first time since a party doner was arrested on sex trafficking charges sparking calls for her resignation. Republican donor Anton Lazzaro was arrested last week and is reported to be a close friend of Republican Party Chairwoman Jennifer Carnahan and her husband, Congressman Jim Hagedorn.

GOP Chairwoman Carnahan talked with KNSI’s Dan “The Ox” Ochsner on Ox in the Afternoon on Tuesday and said she didn’t do anything wrong.

“I think it sets a very, very dangerous precedent to assume guilt by association. I just want to go on the record and say I had no direct knowledge or was in any way involved with the alleged criminal activities undertaken by Mr. Lazzaro.”

She says law enforcement hasn’t questioned her or talked with her about the ongoing criminal case against Lazzaro.

Carnahan told “The Ox” that it’s unrealistic to think that anyone can know everything about the thousands of donors that give to the state’s Republican party.

“It’s impossible for us as a party to know the personal background of every contributor to us, even those donors that we have regular communication or relationships with. So, for the folks out there that are trying to imply otherwise, I just think that’s simply wrong.”

The party decided to donate all the money from Lazzaro to charity.

She says her detractors in the party are taking this opportunity to replay the GOP chair election, which she won in a heated race back in April.

“I was just reelected. I became the first chair in the modern history of our party to be reelected to a third term in a campaign that was very destructive and heated, but I still walked away with 67% of the vote. And if you see all the people on social media, they are the same people that were working against me.”

Carnahan says it’s been very challenging with the negative onslaught in what she says feels like a coup. She has asked other state party leaders to hold a vote of confidence on her continued leadership.

“I am more than happy to call the meeting myself. Let’s come together. If they feel that I am not the right one to lead, I am happy with that and will accept that decision.”

Carnahan says the 14 member Republican State Executive Board will meet on Thursday to discuss her leadership. She is asking any vote on her leadership to be brought before the entire 345 member Central Committee.

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