Motion to expel Minnesota Sen. Nicole Mitchell over felony burglary charge fails

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Minnesota Senate Republicans attempted to expel beleaguered Sen. Nicole Mitchell from the chamber Wednesday, in the wake of accusations she broke into her stepmother’s home last month, but the motion was shot down. Mitchell’s was the deciding vote sealing the procedural maneuver’s failure.

Lawmakers are sprinting to the finish in St. Paul as they near the end of the session, but Mitchell’s felony charge still looms large. Republicans previously attempted procedural moves to get her to recuse herself from voting, and force ethics hearings.

Sen. Zach Duckworth, R-Lakeville, introduced the motion to expel Mitchell.

“I cannot stress to you the importance of the conduct of our members in the Minnesota Senate and what it means to the people of Minnesota. What they’ve been following in the headlines, their thoughts on it, we owe them an answer. We owe them some resolution. They deserve accountability,” Duckworth said.

Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson, R-East Grand Forks, decried Senate Democrats, accusing them of “using (Mitchell) in order to pass their partisan agenda, rather than work together with Republicans.”

MItchell’s presence is essential for Democrats in charge of the chamber to move their agenda. She is the deciding vote on major pieces of legislation for their razor-thin, one-seat majority. Mitchell has voted in recent days on bills brought to the floor.

Mitchell has denied any wrongdoing, claiming she was only going to check on a loved one.

“I was just trying to get a couple of my dad’s things because you wouldn’t talk to me anymore,” Mitchell said to her stepmother during her arrest, according to the complaint.

Detroit Lakes Police Chief Steven Todd said the alleged burglary and Mitchell’s arrest were caught on body cameras. He said he has seen the bodycam footage, but is prohibited from releasing it by state law.

Her next court date is scheduled for June, after the current legislative session ends.