In response to state Sen. Nicole Mitchell, a Woodbury Democrat, facing burglary charges related to her stepmother’s home, Republican senators lodged an ethics complaint on Wednesday.
According to police reports, Mitchell embarked on a three-hour journey from Woodbury to Detroit Lakes in northwest Minnesota, where she was discovered around 5 a.m. in her stepmother’s basement, attired in black attire with a black hat, wielding a flashlight wrapped in a black sock. Allegedly, she sought to retrieve belonging to her late father, citing a communication breakdown with her stepmother.
Despite Mitchell’s absence, a motion failed with a tied vote of 33-33, leading to the Senate deferring other scheduled bills for consideration on Wednesday.
Amidst managing a legislative agenda, Democrats, holding a slim majority in the Senate, grapple with mounting public pressure regarding Mitchell’s status, despite her expressed reluctance to resign.
Demanding a Senate inquiry and potential removal, Republicans emphasize the urgency of commencing an ethics investigation, with Sen. Eric Lucero of Saint Michael, typically seen in colorful attire, advocating for immediate action, citing excerpts from the criminal complaint during a Senate session.
In contrast, Sen. Nick Frentz of North Mankato underscores Mitchell’s presumption of innocence and entitlement to due process under the criminal justice system. Nevertheless, Republicans caution that delaying the investigation could jeopardize its completion before the legislative session concludes on May 20.
Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson of East Grand Forks emphasizes the importance of upholding due process within the legislative body, expressing concerns about the potential ramifications of pending legislation, often determined by narrow margins.
While Senate President Bobby Joe Champion of Minneapolis underscores the imperative of affording Mitchell due process, Sen. Eric Lucero underscores the necessity of upholding ethical standards within the Senate, amid public trust concerns.
