Former State Employee Denounces ‘Character Assassination’ After Dismissal Over 2016 Felony

Former State Employee Denounces ‘Character Assassination’ After Dismissal Over 2016 Felony

By MinneapoliMedia Staff | July 8, 2025

Saint Paul, MN — A former state employee, Wilson Tindi, 42, has accused the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) and the media of engaging in “retroactive character assassination” after his dismissal surfaced following reports of his 2016 felony conviction for fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct. Tindi served as an internal auditor for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) for over six years before joining MDE in early April. He was dismissed from MDE on June 27, 2025, the same day media inquiries regarding his conviction emerged .

Tindi has not confirmed whether he underwent a criminal background check during his initial hiring by either MPCA or MDE. In a series of emails to KSTP, he contested the narrative being shaped around him:

“Now, even if … a state agency had failed to conduct a background check at the time of my 2018 hire, what current conduct of mine would justify this level of retroactive character assassination?”

He emphasized his unblemished seven-year record in public service:

“I am extremely proud of my nearly seven years of blemish‑free public service … I consistently received positive performance evaluations, leadership trust, and formal recognition … agency performance awards at MPCA.”

Details of the Conviction

In 2014 in Minneapolis, Tindi was charged with first-degree burglary and fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct involving a mentally impaired victim. Police reports indicated that the victim awoke to find Tindi touching her inappropriately. He later pled guilty to the criminal sexual conduct charge, with the burglary charge dropped under a plea agreement.

State Response & Public Policy Context

MDE confirmed Tindi was employed for roughly two and a half months but declined to disclose specific grounds for his termination, citing employee privacy guidelines. Following public scrutiny, lawmakers including Rep. Kristin Robbins (R–Maple Grove) initiated inquiries into the department’s background check protocols.

In response, MDE issued a statement asserting compliance with all existing hiring regulations and announced a revised policy mandating criminal background checks for all new hires, with further enhancements in progress.

Under Minnesota’s “Ban the Box” law—enacted in 2009 and expanded in 2013—public and private employers are generally barred from asking about criminal history on initial job applications. Background checks may only occur after an interview or conditional offer—unless the role requires such scrutiny (e.g., educators, bus drivers).

Tindi’s Response & Broader Debate

Tindi contends that resurfacing his decade-old conviction, after years of public service, is unjust and distracts from his professional contributions. He declined an on-camera interview, rejecting further comment on whether he had undergone routine background checks, and declined to discuss the victim’s experiences.

Commentary from conservative analysts, such as Minnesota’s American Experiment, described MDE’s actions as a response to political pressure while noting Tindi continues to maintain his innocence about the dismissal narrative, stating that current conduct should dictate character judgments—not historical offenses.

What’s Next

MDE's updated hiring practices aim to prevent future oversights, though it remains unclear whether these changes will apply retroactively to current employees. Meanwhile, Tindi may consider legal action, including defamation or wrongful termination claims, if he believes his reputation has been unlawfully damaged .

State lawmakers are also expected to closely monitor implementation of revised vetting procedures to ensure full legislative compliance and to increase transparency in the hiring process. The unfolding developments may set a precedent for how Minnesota handles criminal history disclosures for state employees moving forward.

MinneapoliMedia