“I met disrespect with disrespect,” Mr. Thompson said after the verdict as reported by the Pioneer Press. “Because I’m vocal, people take my voice and say I’m angry. I have every right to be angry.”
Mr. Thompson said he had gone to the hospital to visit a friend who had attempted suicide but was treated rudely by hospital staff, which he attributed to racism. The hospital was locked down for about 90 minutes.
“I’m going to keep fighting for what is right,” he said on KARE-11. “You know me. You know I’m not a criminal.”
The trial coincided with calls by leading Minnesota Democrats, including Gov. Tim Walz, for Mr. Thompson to resign over a series of domestic assault incidents in Minnesota and Wisconsin dating back to 2003, some of which took place in front of children.
Rep Thompson sentenced for misdemeanor amid calls for him to resign
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Editorial Roundup: Minnesota
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Rep. Thompson should resign now He has lost the ability to effectively represent his district.
By Editorial Board Text size Copy shortlink:
It is rare that a governor, state House speaker and chairman of one s own party would demand the resignation of a legislator. Yet such is the case with Minnesota Rep. John Thompson, whose accusation that he was racially profiled by St. Paul police has snowballed into revelations that he has been accused of domestic abuse.
Police reports show that Thompson was accused on several occasions of choking and punching a female companion, including an incident in which the victim s 5-year-old daughter was said to be an eyewitness. He s also accused of exposing his genitals to female acquaintances while young children were present.