Representative John Thompson said in an interview with the Star Tribune on Sunday that while he did speak with the officer who pulled him over, he did not apologize. According to the Star Tribune, Thompson said “Nobody knows what was said in that conversation but me and the sergeant.” As was reported by The Minnesota Sun, “St. Paul Police spokesman Steve Linders said in an interview with 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS, ‘John Thompson did show up unannounced at our Western District offices … so he could apologize to the sergeant who pulled him over on July 4.’”
St. Paul Police Chief Todd Axtell had demanded that Thompson apologize after he claimed that the officer who pulled him over on July 4 “racially profiled” him. As reported by The Sun, while at a rally against police brutality, Thompson spoke about his encounter with law enforcement. He said, “I’m still being profiled … too. In fact, I was just pulled over Saturday for a pre-textual stop … you don’t have a front license plate and I got a ticket for my license. Anyway, I thought we weren’t doing pre-textual stops here in this state, but we are. We’re still getting ‘driving while Black tickets here in this state. As a matter of fact, in St. Paul. So let’s just call it what it is, right?”
Thompson was pulled over for driving without a front license plate. During the traffic stop, it was also discovered that Thompson’s license was suspended for failing to pay child support. Thompson also does not currently hold a Minnesota driver’s license, despite having lived in the state for several years. Thompson’s Wisconsin license was renewed at the end of 2020, during his campaign for state representative. Abuse allegations against Thompson have resurfaced as well, leading bipartisan lawmakers to ask Thompson to resign from his position as representative.
Thompson was also recently charged with a misdemeanor for obstruction. He caused a disturbance in a hospital and law enforcement needed to be called. As reported by The Sun, “Thompson called the situation ‘discriminatory,’ but a jury found him guilty of an obstruction misdemeanor.”
An unrelated ethics complaint was also filed against Thompson because of several outbursts he made during a legislative session while Representative Eric Lucero was speaking. As reported by The Sun, “The ethics complaint reads, ‘Rep. Thompson was ruled out of order and subsequently interjected, attacking Rep. Lucero by shouting “I know you’re a racist!” The complaint is signed by Representative Eric Lucero, Representative Joe McDonald, Representative Marion O’Neill, Representative Mary Franson, Representative Steve Green, and Representative Josh Heintzeman.’
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Hayley Tschetter is a reporter with The Minnesota Sun | Star News Network and The College Fix. She graduated with a degree in Communications from the University of Northwestern-St. Paul. Send news tips to [email protected].
