(KNSI) — Democratic Attorney General Keith Ellison and Republican challenger Jim Schultz squared off in the second of four debates Monday night.
They tackled the massive Feeding Our Future fraud case, crime, and Ellison’s alleged support of defunding the police. Schultz criticized Ellison regarding payments made to the Feeding our Future meal program even after fraud suspicions had arisen. Ellison indicated that the FBI told officials to continue the payments.
Schultz also brought up the rising crime rates since Ellison took office. Since 2020, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension’s Uniform Crime Report says violent crimes such as aggravated assault, robbery, rape and murder all increased. Ellison countered, saying it’s not his job to prosecute criminal cases but rather to represent the state in legal matters and protect consumers from predatory practices. The Attorney General oversees all county prosecutors who go after violent offenders and can take over a case at the county prosecutor’s request. Schultz says prosecutors and judges are letting violent criminals walk away with a slap on the wrist.
Ellison went after what he says is Schultz’s lack of experience. Ellison says Schultz has never seen the inside of a courtroom or prosecuted a case before. Schultz is a private sector attorney specializing in business, regulatory, and compliance law.
Schultz says Ellison supported defunding the police, which he refuted, but he did support an amendment in the Minneapolis City Charter that would have abolished the Minneapolis Police Department and replaced it with a Department of Public Safety. Residents soundly rejected that amendment.
Two more debates will be held before election day on November 8th. The two are in a dead heat in recent polls showing 47% of likely voters to support one or the other, with 5% saying they are undecided.
___
Copyright 2022 Leighton Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be broadcast, published, redistributed, or rewritten, in any way without consent.
FOLLOW US FOR INSTANT UPDATES!
FOLLOW US FOR INSTANT UPDATES!