Minnesota gov, other Dems call for embattled state lawmaker's resignation after abuse allegations surface

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and other state Democrats called on state Rep. John Thompson to resign Saturday after past allegations of domestic abuse surfaced Friday, according to reports. 

Johnson, who was first elected last year, has been accused of hitting and choking women – sometimes while young children were present – and of allegedly exposing himself, FOX 9 in Minneapolis reported.  "The alleged acts of violence against multiple women outlined in these reports are serious and deeply disturbing," Walz said in a statement, according to the Star Tribune of Minneapolis. "Minnesotans deserve representatives of the highest moral character, who uphold our shared values. Rep. Thompson can no longer effectively be that leader and he should immediately resign." The allegations were first reported by FOX 9 on Friday night while the station was investigating Thompson’s residency, which came into question during a July 4 traffic stop during which he spuriously accused the officer of racism.