Jeff Dotseth commited more than a decade of Domestic Abuse.
In a sworn affidavit accompanying State Representative Jeff Dotseth’s divorce petition, his now ex-wife detailed lengthly incidents of domestic abuse, including physical assaults.
Ultimately, Jeff Dotseth pleaded guilty for an incident in which he, “grabbed his wife’s face, slapped her and threatened to rip her head off.”
He was also barred from using or possessing firearms and only granted supervised visits with their daughter.
Dotseth repeatedly abused his then wife and stepson.
In a separate account, Dotseth forced his wife’s head between his legs and squeezed tightly. “I remember crying and trying to get him off but could not,” she said in her affidavit.
Dotseth’s ex-wife’s account of abuse was corroborated by her son, who filed an accompanying affidavit detailing his own abuse. He wrote,
“There were many times growing up that my home was not safe because of him. He would have fits of rage and he quickly became violent...I have been punched, slapped, choked, thrown, hit with things and kicked by him.”
His affidavit concluded with, “I have been abused by [Dotseth] both physically and mentally, I have watched his temper rage out of control. I have seen him punch, choke, kick, throw, smother, spit on, disrespect, degrade and demoralize my mother over the years.”
According to the Star Tribune, Dotseth’s former stepson (now an adult) declined to comment when reached by phone, citing fear for his safety.
Dotseth even abused the family dog.
The sworn affadavits reveal Dotseth also abused their dog. “This Christmas, our dog Misty, who is 14 years old, grabbed a small candy bar from one of Jeff’s bags he had sitting on the floor. Misty came into the kitchen, I looked at her and said, ‘What do you have in your mouth?’ Jeff was there and had seen she had a candy bar and punched her and was yelling at her to let go. He hit her again, (their daughter saw) this and was saying ‘Dad stop, she’s old'.’ If dogs are in his way, he’ll kick them to get out of his way.”
Sources:
The Minnesota StarTribune: “Minnesota Rep. Jeff Dotseth charged in 2008 with abuse of then-wife, court filings show” | September 16, 2024.
The Minnesota Reformer: “Rep. Jeff Dotseth kicked dog, called stepson ‘Kunta Kinte,’ according to affidavits” | September 18, 2024.
Jeff Dotseth is Wrong for Minnesota.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, there is help: