Democratic Minnesota State Senator Nicole Mitchell is facing calls for her resignation after being charged with felony first-degree burglary for allegedly breaking into her stepmother’s home to retrieve her late father’s ashes and personal belongings. The arrest prompted the Minnesota Senate to remove Mitchell from her committee assignments and caucus meetings, with Republicans demanding her immediate resignation.
However, Democratic leaders, including Vice Presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz, waited until after the legislative session ended to call for Mitchell’s resignation, sparking criticism from GOP leaders. Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson accused Democrats of turning a blind eye to criminal actions to maintain power, while Governor Walz agreed that Mitchell should resign, calling the allegations against her “disturbing.”
The delayed response from Democratic leaders has drawn backlash, with Republicans accusing them of using Mitchell’s vote to pass their agenda and then casting her aside once her vote was no longer needed. Mitchell, who was elected to represent Minnesota’s Senate District 47 in 2022, has denied the allegations and sought to have her charges dismissed.
A hearing for Mitchell’s case has been delayed to August 30, with the Detroit Lakes Tribune reporting that she appeared in front of an ethics panel on May 7 but invoked her Fifth Amendment rights and refused to speak. The controversy surrounding Mitchell’s case highlights the political tensions in Minnesota and the challenges faced by elected officials in upholding their responsibilities.
