Above: the street side view of the June 29 crash into an electrical pole.
DC political staffer life 🤝 MN lake life
— David Crane (@David_Crane10) June 30, 2022
Absolute banger episode of @RuthlessPodcast live on the lake! Chairman @tomemmer and MN grassroots Republicans are ready to #FirePelosi, elect @KistnerCongress, and take back the Senate and House 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/Ryu6cAGQa7
Here's the podcast mentioned above. Note the dates are "June 30" and the podcast" is "July 5," but our tipster assures us the taping took place on June 29.
Why are these items from social media important?
Bluestem received a tip Friday about a car wreck in Excelsior, MN, on June 29 by Minnesota Second District Republican congressional candidate Tyler Kistner. The accident occurred after the taping of the Ruthless Podcast in which special guests guests Tom Weiler, Tyler Kistner, and Sixth District Congressman and National Republican Congressional Committee Chair Tom Emmer.
The photos and the podcast document that Kistner was drinking beer during the taping of the podcast (Emmer appears to have only consumed water).
Kistner later wrecked his car on Oak Street.
Here's a photo of the pole Kistner crashed into:
We'll be uploading a pdf of photos shortly, as our host site is still reluctant to upload images. Here are two photos from the scene of the accident:
Kistner June 29 vehicle crash photos uploaded by Sally Jo Sorensen on Scribd
Was alcohol involved? We've been sent this witness statement about the wreck:
“On the night of June 29th, I heard a crash near my house and went outside to see what had happened. Other neighbors were out there as well. When I was near the car, I smelled alcohol, and before the police arrived, the driver moved things out of his car and across the street, including a drawstring bag of bottles.
That statement differs from the South Lake Minnetonka Police Department report; the reporting officer notes "I did not observe any indications of impairment."
It appears that Kistner was not breathalyzed. That being the case, Bluestem can't say he was driving while intoxicated.
MN02 GOP candidate Tyler Kistner June 29 Incident Report uploaded by Sally Jo Sorensen on Scribd
The incident seems to have been kept very quiet, and I told the candidate replaced his totaled car to an identical one without saying anything publicly about the crash. Bluestem believes this action would require Kistner to obtain a new license plate. Perhaps someone sometime on the campaign trail has before and after photos.
It might do Kistner well to disclose what happened.
Why did the person in the neighborhood come forward? Earlier Sunday, Bill Salsbery reported for the Pioneer Press, MN 2nd District race between Angie Craig, Tyler Kistner is a very expensive tossup. The race is considered among the closest in the nation.
We'll be back with a PDF of photos from the evening of the crash.
UPDATE 11/8: The state DFL posted a news release on the wreck, on Sunday. Bluestem was not sent the email, though the content matches what I received: NEW: DFL Shares Newly Discovered Evidence Related to Tyler Kistner’s Previously Undisclosed Single Car Crash on June 29th. [end update]
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