Local Representative Joining the Call for Lawmaker to Resign

(KNSI) – Joining the call for Representative John Thompson to resign is St. Cloud Representative Dan Wolgamott.

In a statement over the weekend, Wolgamott said, “Representative John Thompson’s recent actions and disturbing reports of abuse fall well short of the standards Minnesotans expect and deserve from their elected officials. I call on Rep. Thompson to resign immediately.”

Governor Tim Walz, Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, who said in a statement she is a survivor and witness of domestic abuse; House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler and House Speaker Melissa Hortman, all Democrats, called for Thompson to resign.

A press release from Minnesota GOP Chair Jennifer Carnahan says Thompson has “had multiple opportunities to take accountability for his decisions, choices, and actions. Instead of doing the right thing by resigning his position in the State House, Rep. Thompson continues to dig his heels in. As the highest level of leaders in the MN DFL call for his resignation, including Governor Tim Walz, and Chair Ken Martin, the responsibility now lies with Speaker Melissa Hortman and Democrat Leadership to hold Rep. Thompson accountable.”

Thompson has been in the news since July 4th when police stopped him in St. Paul for not having a front license plate on his vehicle. Thompson accused the police officer of racially profiling him. Bodycam footage of that incident was made public and showed Thompson handing over a Wisconsin driver’s license. Thompson’s driving privileges were suspended in Minnesota over an alleged child support issue, which Thompson claimed was not correct.

A deeper search of records shows several allegations of domestic abuse in which Thomson was accused of punching and choking women, sometimes in the presence of children. He is also on trial for an obstruction charge stemming from an incident at North Memorial in Robbinsdale.

Thompson is refusing to resign. His attorney is questioning the authenticity of the police records in the domestic abuse cases and saying this all is nothing more than a smear campaign against him by law enforcement.

Thompson can still be removed from office by the DFL caucus.

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