Minnesota DFL leaders call on Rep. John Thompson to step down

Update: 7:55 p.m.

Leading Minnesota Democrats, including Gov. Tim Walz and House Speaker Melissa Hortman, are calling on Democratic State Representative John Thompson to step down.

In a series of statements released minutes apart on Saturday afternoon, Walz, Hortman, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler and Minnesota DFL Party Chairman Ken Martin referenced to a Fox 9 article published on Friday that revealed several allegations of domestic violence in the past. which Thompson has been accused of assaulting women, in some cases in the presence of children.

Thompson was already under close scrutiny in connection with a recent traffic stop in which he presented a Wisconsin driver’s license.

“The alleged acts of violence against several women described in these reports are serious and deeply disturbing,” Walz wrote. “The people of Minnesota deserve representatives of the highest moral standards, who uphold our shared values. Representative Thompson can no longer effectively be that leader and he should resign immediately.”

“As a mother, children’s advocate, survivor and child witness to domestic violence, I know the deeply traumatic impact of the actions described in the reports against Representative Thompson,” Flanagan wrote. “Someone who has exhibited this type of violent behavior, especially in the presence of children, is unfit for an elected office. Representative Thompson must resign.”

In a joint statement, Hortman and Winkler wrote that “Representative Thompson ran for office to advance progressive policies, but his recent actions and unacceptable reports of abuse and misconduct have become a hindrance to this work. “.

House Republican Minority Leader Kurt Daudt also released a statement on Saturday, calling Thompson unfit for service and stating that “House Republicans have prepared additional ethical complaints which will be filed on Monday in case the representative Thompson would not resign “.

A message left with Thompson on Saturday afternoon was not immediately returned.

Thompson’s attorney Jordan Kushner told Fox 9 that the first rep for St. Paul denies the abuse allegations. Kushner told the Star Tribune on Saturday that Thompson has no plans to step down.