The Sierra Club tossed its support behind the woman accusing Rep. Keith Ellison of physical assault as the Democratic lawmaker fends off stiff opposition in his campaign for attorney general in Minnesota.

“We are deeply troubled and disturbed by our colleague Karen Monahan’s descriptions of abuse by Keith Ellison,” the Sierra Club wrote in a press statement Tuesday, referring to activist Karen Monahan’s accusation against the Democrat. Monahan works for the group on anti-coal initiatives.

Reports that Ellison physically assaulted and psychologically abused Monahan sprang up after her son, Austin Aslim Monahan, claimed in an Aug. 12 Facebook post that he has evidence of the attacks. (RELATED: DNC Silent As Deputy Chair Ellison Battles Domestic Abuse Allegations)

“Everyone should have high expectations for those in office — and everywhere — to live and work with integrity, respect and accountability,” Sierra Club’s statement added. “Karen is our colleague, our friend, and our partner in fighting for a more equitable, inclusive, and just world, and she, her son, and her family deserve to be treated with respect.”

Other liberal activist groups are demanding Ellison resign from Congress and end his attorney general campaign following the allegations.

“We believe women. We believe Karen Monahan,” UltraViolet executive director Shaunna Thomas said in a statement Monday. “A domestic abuser does not belong in any position of power but particularly not as the top prosecutor in the State.”

The Democratic National Committee is largely ignoring the controversy. The DNC declined repeated requests for comment from The Daily Caller News Foundation, as well as requests from The Wall Street Journal, HuffPost and CNN. Ellison is the DNC’s deputy chair.

Follow Chris White on Facebook and Twitter

Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.