WINNIPEG—New Manitoba NDP Leader Wab Kinew acknowledges that he will continue to face questions about 14-year-old domestic violence charges that recently became public and have dominated news headlines since his election on Saturday.Kinew raised the issue, unprompted, while speaking to a rally Tuesday outside the legislature held by labour and poverty activists demanding a higher provincial minimum wage.“I also want to say to everybody here that I know there’s a lot of discussion about me on social media, in the media and around people’s conversation tables,” Kinew told the crowd of about 100 people.“And I want to say that I’m committed to answering questions and addressing concerns that any of you have, and will continue to show up for those conversations.”Read more: Wab Kinew elected NDP leader in ManitobaWoman at centre of Wab Kinew domestic assault allegations says she was thrownThe domestic violence charges came to light via anonymous emails sent to Winnipeg media outlets last month. Kinew was charged with two counts of assaulting his former partner, Tara Hart, in 2003. The charges were stayed in 2004 and court transcripts made available to date do not outline reasons for the decision.Kinew, 35, has repeatedly denied the accusations and has pointed out that the case was dropped.Last week, Hart went public. She told The Canadian Press she stands by her assertions that Kinew threw her across the living room of the apartment they shared, causing rug burns that were so severe she could not bend her legs.Labour leaders, politicians and others who endorsed Kinew stood by him and he beat rival Steve Ashton for the leadership Saturday by almost a 3-1 margin.Kinew and the NDP have since been criticized on social media and in newspapers.“One of the things that I’ve begun to understand over the past few days is, it’s not going to be up to me as to when people are done having those questions a ...
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