I wrote yesterday about the appalling murder–call it what it was–of five young Somali women by a career criminal named Derrick Thompson. Derrick is the son of John Thompson, a former DFL legislator who is best known as an anti-police activist, and who also has a considerable criminal record, largely related to traffic violations.

Derrick Thompson was clocked at 95 to 100 mph on Highway 35W, probably the Twin Cities’ busiest highway. Before the Highway Patrol could pursue him, he exited the highway off a down ramp to Lake Street and immediately ran a red light, essentially vaporizing a car containing the five innocent young women. You almost have to see the video to believe it:

WARNING: Disturbing video shows moment of impact from reckless driver speeding & running a red light before killing five people and fleeing the scene. Sources have identified the driver as Derrick John Thompson, the son of former DFL state Rep. John Thompson. pic.twitter.com/JVvNDwuaOV

— Liz Collin (@lizcollin) June 18, 2023

… How does a guy with a long history of drugs, guns, traffic offenses, gang membership, fleeing officers, and nearly killing a woman in a hit and run get his driver’s license back at a time when he supposedly was still sentenced to prison in California?

[Here’s one reason: Minnesota authorities and media seem more concerned about how the video got leaked than in the homicides, as John points out. You have to read it all to grasp just how this political nepo baby got a free ride through the system for years and years, and not just in Minnesota. — Ed]