2021/07/20 06:37 MINNEAPOLIS (AP) A Black Minnesota state lawmaker who rose to prominence after the fatal shooting of his friend Philando Castile came under increasing pressure to resign Monday, after old domestic abuse allegations surfaced as he was already dealing with fallout over an acrimonious traffic stop. Legislative Republicans threatened to file an ethics complaint against John Thompson, who became an outspoken activist on police accountability and later turned to politics after Castile was shot to death by a police officer in 2016. Thompson used his position to argue for policing changes that would shield people of color from unfair treatment. But the domestic abuse allegations, first reported by KMSP-TV on Friday, were the last straw for top Democrats after a tumultuous couple of weeks.
Embattled state lawmaker mum on his next move
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Rep Thompson defends himself in court
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Fox9 in Minneapolis first reported that Mr. Thompson was involved in multiple domestic-assault cases. Court records from 2003 to 2011 show he pleaded guilty in three cases to reduced charges of disorderly conduct, while a fourth case was dismissed.
Mr. Kushner said that his client, now on trial in a 2019 obstruction case in Hennepin County Court, “maintains the allegations are false and he was never found guilty of them in a court,” according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
Mr. Walz joined the Democratic House leadership, the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party and the Republican Party of Minnesota in calling Saturday for Mr. Thompson to step down from his seat representing St. Paul’s east side.