State Senator Nicole Mitchell (D-MN) has recently been charged with burglary following an alleged break-in at her stepmother’s residence in April. Earlier this week, Mitchell attended a settlement conference at the Becker County District Court in Detroit Lakes, where she was seen wearing a pink parka that obscured her face and declined to respond to inquiries.
The senator faces a single count of first-degree burglary related to her arrest on April 22 of the previous year in Detroit Lakes. According to the criminal complaint, her stepmother reported an intruder in her basement during the early morning hours. Law enforcement officers found Mitchell on the premises dressed entirely in black.
Upon her arrest, Mitchell reportedly remarked to the authorities, “Clearly I’m not good at this,” explaining that her intention was to retrieve personal items belonging to her deceased father, including his ashes. Her stepmother, Carol Mitchell, 74, previously described the incident, stating that she discovered the Minnesota Democrat “dressed like a burglar at the foot of my bed.”
Mitchell’s legal troubles have sparked significant backlash within Minnesota’s political landscape. Tim Walz, the former running mate of Vice President Kamala Harris and the Governor of Minnesota, has called for Mitchell’s resignation amid the controversy. Additionally, Republican state senators have initiated an ethics investigation into Mitchell, which is currently on hold pending the outcome of her case.
Reports also indicate that a Republican-led initiative to expel Mitchell from the Minnesota Senate was unsuccessful. The motion, introduced by Senator Jordan Rasmusson, failed due to a procedural issue that prevented a vote, resulting in a tie of 33 to 33 along party lines. Rasmusson accused Mitchell of “abusing her position in the Senate to force a delay in a trial that would provide closure and justice for a real victim.” Furthermore, GOP Senator Mark Johnson asserted that Mitchell was misusing her political position, emphasizing that there had been repeated calls for her to have her day in court before any decisions could be made.
Republican Senator Rich Draheim stated, “The integrity of the Senate was at stake today, and the Democrats did not rise to the occasion. Senator Mitchell acknowledged that she ‘did something wrong’ and is currently facing a felony burglary charge; however, the Democrats opted to shield her rather than uphold the institution. The citizens of Minnesota deserve better. It is imperative that senators adhere to the highest ethical standards.”
He further remarked, “Last year, Senator Mitchell and her Democratic colleagues leveraged her impending trial as a rationale to postpone actions, including addressing an ethics violation. Now, she is utilizing the legislative session as a pretext to delay her trial. She continues to evade accountability. This represents a blatant double standard—no ordinary citizen would be granted the same privilege she is exploiting. Today presented an opportunity to restore confidence in the Senate, yet the Democrats prioritized partisan allegiance over accountability.”
