Two high-profile endorsers of now-expelled State Rep. John Thompson (D-District 67A) remained silent Thursday when asked whether they still support the embattled congressman.
Thompson was expelled earlier this week from the Minnesota House Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) caucus after a string of incidents stemming back to August of 2020, and the resurfacing of allegations of domestic abuse in his past.
He accused a police officer of racially profiling him during a traffic stop on July 4. The reason he was stopped, it turned out, was for driving without a front license plate, which is illegal in Minnesota. At that time, the public also learned that Thompson still had a Wisconsin driver’s license, raising questions about whether he actually resided in the district where he was elected. His license was also suspended at the time of the traffic stop for failure to pay child support.
Consequently, Thompson will no longer have access to DFL resources and staff, and was stripped of his committee assignments.
Both Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN-05) and Gov. Tim Walz (D) endorsed Thompson’s successful bid for the State House.
“The Governor called on [Thompson] to resign in July,” Walz’s Press Secretary Claire Lancaster told The Minnesota Sun.
When asked whether he would re-up that resignation call after Thompson’s expulsion, Walz’s office did not respond.
Omar’s office did not respond to The Sun’s comment request.
However, lawmakers in the State House have called for Thompson’s resignation.
“Rep. Thompson’s actions, credible reports of abuse and misconduct, and his failure to take responsibility remain unacceptable for a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives. It would be best for Rep. Thompson, his family, and the institution for him to resign. In the absence of a resignation, the Minnesota House DFL has voted to remove Rep. Thompson from the caucus,” a joint statement from Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and Majority Leader Ryan Winkler said.
For now, Thompson says he will keep his post, and will serve as an Independent.
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Pete D’Abrosca is a contributor at The Minnesota Sun and The Star News Network. Follow Pete on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
