The DFL House Caucus has announced that it is postponing its Tuesday fundraising event with John Thompson, a House candidate who once threatened to burn down Hugo, Minnesota.
The decision came after the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association (MPPOA) sent a letter to House Speaker Melissa Hortman Monday night. The letter pushed back against the DFL’s continued support of Thompson and warned that the MPPOA “will not tolerate” it.
“We are writing to address our deep frustration with the continued support shown by the DFL House Caucus to John Thompson for his candidacy for state representative – in particular, his inclusion at a caucus fundraiser on Tuesday, Sept. 8, sponsored by the DFL House Caucus,” says the MPPOA letter.
MPPOA will not tolerate the DFL Caucus supporting John Thompson. See the letter the MPPOA sent: pic.twitter.com/u5iQrpDBoZ
— Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association (@MNPoliceAssn) September 8, 2020
Alpha News first reported Sunday that Thompson was scheduled to participate in a virtual “Meet the New Majority” event with 11 other DFL candidates.
“Thompson has threatened to burn down a neighborhood and beat an effigy of a police officer’s wife, a female reporter, while standing outside their home. This is violent and outrageous behavior – and not just rhetoric – specifically against a police officer and his family,” the letter notes.
“Anyone – including candidates for office – that supports Thompson’s candidacy to the Minnesota House of Representatives, cannot be considered a supporter of law enforcement and will not be supported by the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association. We strongly urge the DFL House Caucus to immediately end their support of his candidacy and remove him from participation in any pre-election caucus event,” it continues.
House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt weighed in on the matter in a statement issued via the House Republican Campaign Committee.
“Several Democrat candidates are scheduled to raise money with a Democrat who screamed profanities at children and threatened violence against a Minneapolis police officer and his wife,” said Daudt.
“They offered only mild criticism at the time, but are now raising money and boosting his candidacy. Democrats should cancel this fundraiser and withdraw all support for Mr. Thompson – if they don’t, they’re sending a message that they stand with the radical anti-police wing of their party who think it’s acceptable to riot in our neighborhoods and threaten violence against law enforcement officers,” he added.
The DFL House Caucus then announced that it would be postponing its Tuesday event, but did not elaborate on whether it would host events with Thompson in the future.
“The Minnesota House DFL’s Meet the New Majority event, originally scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 8th at 12:00 p.m., has been postponed. We look forward to seeing you at our next scheduled event,” said the caucus at 10:30 p.m. last night.
The DFL’s announcement came after the MPPOA’s letter and was initially announced in an email from Hortman, who had the endorsement of the MPPOA in 2018. The MPPOA is the largest police association in Minnesota, with over 10,000 members, and was founded in 1922.
Judah Torgerud
Judah Torgerud is a freelance journalist working with Alpha News to keep the people informed and bring the truth to light. Contact him at whqnu@nycunarjfza.pbz.
