Sen. Nicole Mitchell, DFL-Woodbury, brings HF 3454, the Omnibus Veterans policy provisions bill to the Senate floor on April 18, 2024. (Photo by Senate Media Services.)
St. Paul, MN – Senate Republicans attempted to expel DFL Senator Nicole Mitchell Monday (January 27th) during the session. Mitchell is accused of burglary for breaking into her stepmother’s home in Detroit Lakes to retrieve items of her late father.
Republican Senator Michael Kreun of Blaine said there was no need to wait for the trial process to be completed because by asking a judge to delay her trial, “Senator Mitchell is making a mockery of the Minnesota Senate, and the time is now for us to stop playing along and finally uphold the reputation of the Minnesota Senate.”
Democrats argued against and asked Senate President Bobby Joe Champion to rule the motion to expel was out of order. DFL Senator Nick Frentz of Mankato said Mitchell “has not had her day in court, and the Senate subcommittee on ethics and the rules under 55 make it quite clear. When the Senate subcommittee says it wants to wait for the criminal matter to resolve, we shall do so.”
There was a procedural vote on the Senate President’s motion to deny Mitchell’s expulsion, and it was tied 33-33. Senate Republicans would have needed a two-thirds majority with that vote to expel Mitchell.
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