Minnesota State Senator Stripped of Committee Assignments Following Felony Burglary Charges

(KNSI) — Minnesota State Senator Nicole Mitchell has been stripped of her committee assignments and barred from caucus meetings following her arrest on felony burglary charges in Becker County.

Senator Mitchell was charged with felony burglary after allegedly breaking into her stepmother’s Detroit Lakes home early Monday morning. She claimed she was after some of her late father’s belongings, including his ashes after her stepmother cut off all contact. The criminal complaint says she broke in through a window and was found in the basement dressed all in black with a sock covered flashlight and laptop that wasn’t hers.

Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy called the situation “tragic” but said additional questions need to be answered and while they wait, Mitchell will be relieved of her assignments and won’t be allowed to caucus with the party. She will, however, be allowed to vote remotely. Mitchell is a Democrat and the DFL holds a one seat majority in the Senate, so her her arrest and absence would complicate passage of disputed bills where her vote would be needed.

Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson says her removal from committee assignments is not enough and “as caucus leaders we are responsible to hold our members accountable for their actions. Instead, this half hearted punsihment is a partisan effort to protect a political agenda and allow Sen. Mitchell to be the deciding vote on the floor.”

“Senate Republicans are committed to getting the business done at the Senate – as we demonstrated last week. But we will not tarnish the Senate’s reputation by voting alongside someone facing felony charges and without a final decision by the ethics subcommittee.”

Mitchell’s case has been referred to the Senate Subcommittee on Ethical Conduct. Many have called for her resignation, which she has said she will not do.

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