Nicole Mitchell, a Democratic state senator from Woodbury, is facing calls to immediately resign her seat in the Minnesota Senate following her arrest Monday morning on felony burglary charges.
A criminal complaint filed Tuesday accuses Mitchell of driving through the night from Woodbury to Detroit Lakes, where she allegedly broke into her stepmother’s home to retrieve her late father’s belongings.
According to the complaint, officers found Mitchell in the basement of the home dressed in black clothing and wearing a black hat.
After being read her Miranda rights, Mitchell reportedly said, “I know I did something bad.” Mitchell said she was seeking several items related to her late father including pictures, a flannel shirt, and her father’s ashes, according to the court document.
The criminal complaint indicates that Mitchell was also in possession of one of her stepmother’s laptops.
“I understand the difficult situation her family is facing, however the actions taken by Sen. Mitchell are disturbing. The complaint released by the Becker County Attorney lays out the case of a person who took extensive preparation to burglarize a family member’s home. This behavior is unbecoming of a member of the Legislature and she needs to resign from the Senate immediately,” Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson, R-East Grand Forks, said in a statement.
Republican Party of Minnesota Chairman David Hann described Mitchell’s actions as severe enough to “warrant her immediate resignation.”
“The complaint released by the Becker County Attorney’s Office details Senator Mitchell’s extensive premeditation in committing this crime,” he said. “Senator Mitchell must immediately resign from the Minnesota Senate to uphold the integrity of the office and maintain public trust.”
Democratic Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy, DFL-St. Paul, called the allegations “upsetting” in a statement distributed to the media.
“The behavior alleged is far outside the character she has established in the Senate and in her distinguished career in the military,” Murphy said. “We believe in due process, and Senator Mitchell has the right to a full defense of her case in court. In the coming days and weeks, Senator Mitchell must also have serious and difficult conversations with her colleagues, constituents and family.”
NEW: DFL Sen. Nicole Mitchell denies the burglary charges against her in a Facebook post and claims she "startled" a close relative with Alzheimer's. The criminal complaint does not mention Alzheimer's and quotes Mitchell as saying "I know I did something bad." pic.twitter.com/UZK8sZeNVJ
— Alpha News (@AlphaNewsMN) April 23, 2024
Currently, Democrats hold just a one-seat majority in the Minnesota Senate, which is scheduled to be in session for another month.
Anthony Gockowski
Anthony Gockowski is Editor-in-Chief of Alpha News. He previously worked as an editor for The Minnesota Sun and Campus Reform, and wrote for the Daily Caller.
