Bachmann alleges Muslim Brotherhood ties

WASHINGTON, July 20 (UPI) -- U.S. Rep. Michelle Bachmann, R-Minn., accused Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., of having ties with the Muslim Brotherhood.

Bachmann told a Thursday interview with conservative TV and radio host Glenn Beck she stands behind her earlier statements about Huma Abedin, a top aide to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, having ties to the Muslim Brotherhood through relatives and accused her Minnesota colleague of having similar ties, the Star Tribune newspaper in Minneapolis reported Friday.

"He has a long record of being associated with (the Council on American–Islamic Relations) and with the Muslim Brotherhood," Bachmann said of Ellison.

Ellison told the Huffington Post there is no basis for Bachmann's accusations.

"I am not now, nor have I ever been, associated with the Muslim Brotherhood," he said.

U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., denounced Bachmann's calls for investigations into Muslim Brotherhood "influence operations" on the floor of the Senate Wednesday and House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said Thursday Bachmann's allegations are "dangerous."