Rep. John Thompson calls for swift release of body camera footage from traffic stop

Minnesota Rep. John Thompson, who claimed he was racially profiled during a July 4 traffic stop, said he supports the release of body camera video from the St. Paul police officer who pulled him over.

"It is within the power of the St. Paul Police to release that footage, and I am not a barrier to that," said Thompson, DFL-St. Paul, in a statement released on his legislative website on Monday. He said even though the video will show the officer conducted the traffic stop "by the book," the bigger issue is "we need to rewrite the book."

The state representative was cited for driving under suspension after police say he was pulled over for not having a front license plate. Thompson, who has a Wisconsin driver's license, had his driving privileges revoked in Minnesota in April 2019 in a Ramsey County child-support case. He explained in his statement that he had previously lived in Wisconsin and considered moving back to care for a family member, who will instead move to Minnesota.

https://www.startribune.com/rep-john-thompson-calls-for-swift-release-of-body-camera-footage-from-traffic-stop/600077444/