Press Release

Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party Chairman Ken Martin issued the following statement on the death of former Hennepin County Attorney Tom Johnson:

I’m absolutely heartbroken at the passing of Tom Johnson. Minnesota has lost a reformer working to restore justice to our criminal justice system, a tireless advocate for survivors of abuse, and a man devoted to serving his community however he could.

The most remarkable thing about Tom was the fact that he always sought out opportunities to help people above and beyond his work as Hennepin County Attorney and a Minneapolis City Council member. Tom’s passion for improving our justice system led him to found a network that shared innovations in reforming that system with policy-makers across the nation, and Tom’s compassion for survivors led him to volunteer as an independent investigator of and advocate for victims of clerical abuse.

I’m praying for Tom’s family, and I hope they can find some comfort in the good Tom did and the lives he touched during this extremely difficult time.