The younger Ellison’s plans are angering colleagues who say the arrangement is ‘not acceptable’
Jeremiah Ellison, the radical son of Minnesota attorney general Keith Ellison and a Minneapolis city councilman, is rankling some of his Democratic colleagues after jetting off to Cambridge, Mass., for a full-time fellowship at Harvard University, but is insisting on keeping his job and six-figure salary.
The younger Ellison was awarded Harvard’s Loeb fellowship, in which fellows “agree to step away from any significant roles with their employers and other employment responsibilities; to refrain from professional work during the fellowship year, except as approved by the Loeb curator.” In exchange, the fellowship, administered by Harvard’s Graduate School of Design, provides a $57,500 stipend.
But Ellison insists he will “continue [his] workload as normal, virtually,” representing Minneapolis’ North Side from Cambridge, though council rules bar members from attending meetings or voting remotely, KSTP Minneapolis reported. Ellison’s Democratic colleagues are not fans of the plan, warning his absence will cost his constituents a voice on the Business, Housing, and Zoning Committee and the Public Health and Safety Committee.
Council member LaTrisha Vetaw, who represents the other half of North Minneapolis, blasted Ellison’s move as “not acceptable,” noting that without him on those panels, “we have zero North Minneapolis representation on those committees.” Council vice president Linea Palmisano echoed the frustration, saying she doubted “other employees” would ever be allowed such a paid leave of absence.
Ellison brushed off concerns when pressed by reporters, saying “nothing remarkable [is] happening” and refusing an interview, KSTP noted.
In 2020, Ellison aligned himself with left-wing radicals, tweeting, “I hereby declare, officially, my support for ANTIFA,” in response to President Donald Trump designating Antifa as a terrorist organization.
His father, Keith Ellison, is also no stranger to controversy. The Minnesota attorney general was connected to the Nation of Islam for at least a decade and repeatedly defended its leader, Louis Farrakhan, against charges of anti-Semitism.
In December 2021, Keith Ellison met with individuals later indicted in the sprawling $250 million Feeding Our Future fraud scheme, telling them he was “here to help,” according to audio first obtained by the Center of the American Experiment. Just days later, he accepted thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from men tied to the nonprofit.
