Senator Nicole Mitchell (Image from Becker County Jail in Custody List)
St. Paul, MN – A Minnesota Senate ethics panel this afternoon (Tues 1pm) considers a complaint filed against Democratic Senator Nicole Mitchell, who faces felony burglary charges for allegedly breaking into her stepmother’s home in Detroit Lakes.
Republicans say there are inconsistencies in Mitchell’s story: She told police “I know I did something bad”… but later posted she was checking on a family member with Alzheimer’s, while her stepmother said she never told Mitchell about the early-stage diagnosis; Mitchell said she was looking for her late father’s ashes, but her stepmother says she sent a portion of them to Mitchell.
The subcommittee, with two Democrats and two Republicans, will likely debate whether there’s “probable cause” for an investigation.
Republicans have called for Mitchell’s resignation which would tie the Senate at 33-33, but Democrats say she has a right to due process.
Mitchell’s next court appearance isn’t until after the legislature’s May 20th adjournment deadline.