In a scandal that rocked the state of Minnesota, Democrat State Sen. Nicole Mitchell has been slapped with a new felony charge after she was arrested for breaking and entering. Senate Republicans have called for her to resign during the criminal investigation, which has dragged on for months as the Democrat desperately tries to avoid jail.
For context, Sen. Nicole Mitchell was arrested at her stepmother’s house and initially charged with possession of burglary tools. She says that she was there to retreive her late fathers laptop, and remarked how she hoped the incident wouldn’t “f**k up her life.”
Slamming the Democrat for her obstinacy, Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson demanded she step down. He said, “The circus surrounding the Senate needs to stop. We have real business to attend to: balancing a budget, addressing fraud, and putting Minnesotans first. Senate Democrats need to demonstrate that they are serious about solving problems in a bipartisan manner and do the right thing: end the sideshow and let the voters pick a new senator.”
While she was initially charged with only one felony, the Senator has been hit with another charge after skillfully delaying her trial for almost two years. According to her attorney, the new charges are different enough that they may further delay the process. He said, “It also means that she is entitled to a new omnibus hearing.”
In response to the debacle, Senate Republicans have filed an ethics complaint against the embattled Democrat. The document began by introducing the legislators who sought to have her removed, reading, “Senators Bahr, Draheim, Drazkowski, Green, Housley, Lieske, Lucero, Utke, and Wesenberg, each being first duly sworn, state and allege under oath the following based upon information and belief:”
Concluding their complaint, the Republicans explained which rules she violated. They wrote, “Sen. Mitchell violated Senate Rules 56.1, 56.2, and 56.3 by breaking into the home of an elderly family member, attempting to steal the victim’s personal effects, and subsequently attempting to cover up her conduct by publishing conflicting information.”
Attached to the same document was a statement from the officers who arrested Mitchell. The police reported, “Detroit Lakes police officers were dispatched to a residence in Detroit Lakes in Becker County on a report that somebody had broken into a residence. The reporting party, a known adult female (hereinafter “Victim”), stated that the suspect ran into the basement. Officer Ethan Wothe arrived on scene at Victim’s residence. Once inside, Officer Wothe overheard movement coming from the basement.”
Providing additional context, the document said, “Officer Wothe and Officer Sternhagen searched the basement and shortly thereafter located a female dressed in all black clothing and a black hat. The female, later identified as Nicole Lynn Mitchell (DOB: 10-10-1974), was ordered to the ground and placed under arrest. While being detained Mitchell stated to the Victim something to the effect of, “I was just trying to get a couple of my dad’s things because you wouldn’t talk to me anymore.”
Adding a note of humor to the proceedings, Officer Wothe described his interaction with the suspect. He wrote, “Mitchell stated she had “just gotten into the house” and commented “clearly I’m not good at this.’”