Press Release

Tyler Kistner totaled his car on drive home from podcast taping at a bar in June, where he was photographed holding a drink 

Witness says Kistner smelled of alcohol following the crash and removed a drawstring bag of bottles from his car before police arrived

Today, DFL Chairman Ken Martin shared newly discovered details related to a previously undisclosed single car crash on June 29^th involving GOP Congressional Candidate Tyler Kistner.

According to a police report and new eyewitness account, GOP Congressional candidate Tyler Kistner (MN-02) totaled his car following an event at the Tequila Butcher in Tonka Bay around 11:15 p.m. on June 29th.

Kistner was coming from a taping of the “Ruthless” podcast. This week, he denied drinking before the crash. However, there is a photo of him holding a beer and podcast audio that alludes to a drink in his hand.

A witness to the immediate aftermath of the crash, who wishes to remain anonymous to protect their privacy, reported that Kistner’s car smelled of alcohol. Before the police arrived on the scene, the witness reports that Kistner quickly began removing things from his car and putting them outside a church across the street – among the items moved were drawstring bags full of bottles.

“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,” said a witness on the scene following the crash.

Kistner was not breathalyzed by police and said he had swerved to avoid another car. Kistner could not provide law enforcement with a description of the vehicle.

Timeline of events:

1. Evening: Kistner taped the “Ruthless” podcast where he was pictured on stage with alcohol and holding a beer. Podcast audio alludes to him holding a beer.
2. 11:15 pm: Witnesses heard Kistner crash into telephone pole.
3. 11:17 pm: South Lake Minnetonka Police were called.
   1. Before the police arrived on the scene, the witness reports that Kistner removed things from his car and put them outside a church across the street – among the items moved were drawstring bags full of bottles.
   2. Additionally, the witness described Kistner smelling of alcohol.
4. 11:36 pm: Police arrived at scene.
   1. Kistner told police he had swerved to avoid another car. He could not provide a description of the car.
5. 12:34 am: Police cleared the scene.

On November 3rd, when asked if he had been drinking the night of 6/29, Kistner denied drinking any alcohol, even though audio and photo evidence suggest otherwise.

Please find a copy of the police report here.