Minnesota Democrats have called for Rep. John Thompson to resign nearly one year after his long history of alleged violence and domestic abuse became a topic of public discourse.
Thompson first achieved notoriety in August 2020 when he called for anti-police protesters to burn down the town of Hugo. Shortly after that incident, Alpha News unearthed and reported on his criminal record, which shows he has a history of domestic assault accusations. Despite this, the Minnesota DFL, Gov. Tim Walz and U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar upheld their endorsements of then-candidate Thompson.
Now, after it has become clear that the left-wing lawmaker doesn’t have a Minnesota driver’s license and may not live in the district he represents, the mainstream media and Minnesota Democrats have acknowledged what Alpha News reported 11 months ago.
Fox 9 published an article Friday that reports on how one of Thompson’s alleged victims accused him of exposing himself and demanding she “kiss the tip” of his penis during an argument while children and relatives were present in 2010. In a similar 2009 incident involving a different woman, he apparently exposed himself and told his then-girlfriend and two young children, “I’m the man, you can all suck my dick.”
The representative has also been accused of beating a girlfriend in a supermarket parking lot in 2003 while the woman’s five-year-old child was present. The girlfriend told police that her and her child were homeless at the time. This is the same woman Thompson is accused of strangling, leaving bruises on her throat, about a year later, Alpha News reported last week.
“I’ll choke you until you can’t breathe anymore,” he allegedly told his victim during the 2004 incident in Eagan, Minnesota.
Thompson pleaded guilty to lesser charges in all of the cases.
Top DFL legislators, Gov. Walz, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, and the chairman of the DFL Party all urged Thompson to step down Saturday.
“Minnesotans deserve representatives who uphold the highest moral character and share our values. Following the deeply disturbing reports of domestic violence against multiple women, Rep. Thompson can no longer effectively be that leader and should immediately resign,” Walz said in a statement.
It is unclear why no such request was made earlier, as Thompson’s pattern of alleged physical abuse has been public knowledge since he entered politics. Minnesota House Republicans say they will pursue an ethics complaint against Thompson Monday should he not vacate office.
Meanwhile, Thompson’s attorney, Jordan Kushner, who is also representing him in his ongoing criminal trial related to a 2019 incident, says Democrats should continue to support his client. The current situation “shows how when push comes to shove, the Democratic establishment will cater to law enforcement interests over those struggling for justice,” the lawyer says.
As of publication, Thompson has not indicated whether or not he intends to resign.
Kyle Hooten
Kyle Hooten is Managing Editor of Alpha News. His coverage of Minneapolis has been featured on television shows like Tucker Carlson Tonight and in print media outlets like the Wall Street Journal.
