Gov. Tim Walz repeats his insistence that Rep. John Thompson resign

Thompson still refuses to quit as another report of alleged abuse emerges.


Gov. Tim Walz on Monday again insisted that state Rep. John Thompson resign over reports of multiple domestic violence accusations as House DFL leaders considered what to do about the lawmaker's refusal to step down.

Police reports from three departments detail five domestic assault cases, some that took place in front of children, from 2003-11. Walz said the allegations have rendered the freshman DFL lawmaker from St. Paul no longer fit to serve.

"We all make transgressions in our lives, but I just want to be clear, the information over the weekend involving multiple accusations, cases of domestic violence in front of children just makes it to where I cannot believe that the representative can continue to serve us well," Walz told reporters after visiting a Lake Elmo middle school as part of a tour touting Minnesota's two-year education budget.

The police reports first obtained and reported by Fox 9 detail multiple arrests of Thompson after he was accused of domestic violence in Eagan, St. Paul and Superior, Wis. The Star Tribune has since obtained the reports through records requests. Multiple cases involve allegations of punching and choking, at times in front of children and other relatives. Thompson denies the allegations.

Read more: https://www.startribune.com/walz-repeats-insistence-that-rep-thompson-resign/600079460/