GOP says volunteer was groped at Minnesota State Fair booth

The Minnesota Republican Party said Saturday that a woman volunteering at the party's booth at the State Fair was sexually assaulted by another woman Friday night during a political disagreement.

The volunteer was reported to have been "groped … over the clothes," said Brooke Blakey, a State Fair police spokeswoman, adding that the victim and suspect "had had a previous discussion about politics."

Blakey declined to say what part of the victim's body was groped.

The altercation happened at 8:50 p.m., Blakey said. Party representatives called 911 at the end of the night to report it, said Jennifer Carnahan, chairwoman of the Republican Party of Minnesota, in a statement Saturday.

Blakey said police have not identified the assailant, who was described as a white woman in her 30s, 5 feet 4, with brown hair.

State Fair police are asking anyone with information about the incident to call them at 651-288-4500.

While no information was available about the political affiliation of the suspect, Carnahan, without evidence, contended that she and her staff were "harassed and threatened by Democrats."

Brian Evans, communications director for the DFL Party, responded by saying, "[T]he Minnesota DFL condemns [assault] in the strongest possible terms."

"Going forward, we hope that everyone who attends the Great Minnesota Get-Together will be treated with the respect and compassion that we all deserve," Evans said.

Katy Read • 612-673-4583