Sen. Aric Putnam Urges Nicole Mitchell to Resign Following Burglary Conviction
In the wake of Senator Nicole Mitchell’s felony conviction on burglary-related charges, State Senator Aric Putnam (DFL–St. Cloud) is publicly calling on his colleague to honor her prior commitment to resign from the Minnesota Senate.
“Senator Mitchell repeatedly asked for due process and the opportunity to defend herself in court. She received that through a trial before a jury of her peers, and that jury has now delivered its verdict,” Putnam stated in a press release issued Friday.
“Minnesotans deserve accountability from their elected officials.
It is time to move forward and return our full focus to the work we were elected to do.”
Mitchell, a first-term Democrat representing Woodbury, was found guilty Friday of first-degree burglary and possession of burglary tools.
The charges stem from an April 2024 incident in which she unlawfully entered the Detroit Lakes residence of her estranged stepmother, Carol Mitchell.
During the trial, prosecutors presented body camera footage in which Mitchell admitted to breaking into the home to retrieve her late father’s ashes and other personal items.
Mitchell’s father passed away in 2023 after nearly four decades of marriage to Carol Mitchell.
While testifying in her defense, the senator claimed she entered the home to check on Carol, who has Alzheimer’s disease, and initially misled police in order to spare her further stress.
Despite maintaining her innocence, Mitchell had previously told fellow lawmakers that she would resign if convicted.
Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy (DFL–St. Paul) reiterated that expectation shortly after the verdict was delivered, signaling that Mitchell’s resignation is now anticipated.
Mitchell’s legal saga has placed mounting pressure on the DFL-controlled Senate, where Democrats currently hold a slim one-seat majority.
Her resignation would prompt a special election in the politically competitive Woodbury district, potentially shifting the chamber’s balance of power.
Throughout the proceedings, Democratic leaders refrained from calling for Mitchell’s removal, citing her right to due process.
However, she was suspended from caucus activities and stripped of committee assignments.
Republican lawmakers attempted multiple times to expel her from the Senate but were unsuccessful without bipartisan support.
As of Monday morning, Mitchell has not made a formal announcement regarding her resignation.