Minnesota State Senator Nicole Mitchell is facing mounting legal and political pressure after a second felony charge was filed against her, deepening an already controversial situation that’s rattling the state legislature.
Mitchell, a Democrat, was initially arrested after being found inside her stepmother’s home without permission. She was first charged with possession of burglary tools and now faces a new charge tied to the same incident. Her explanation? She says she was only trying to recover her late father’s laptop.
The unfolding case has sparked outrage, especially among Republican lawmakers, who are calling for her immediate resignation. Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson didn’t hold back, saying, “This ongoing drama is distracting from our real responsibilities — balancing the budget, cracking down on fraud, and serving Minnesotans. It’s time Senate Democrats put the state’s needs first and allow voters to choose new representation.”
Though her trial has been delayed for nearly two years, Mitchell’s legal team argues the new felony charge is separate enough to warrant additional hearings — a move that could drag out the proceedings even longer. Her attorney confirmed that the latest development means she is entitled to a new omnibus hearing.
In the wake of these developments, Senate Republicans have filed an official ethics complaint, naming several legislators as signatories, including Senators Bahr, Draheim, Drazkowski, Green, Housley, Lieske, Lucero, Utke, and Wesenberg. The complaint accuses Mitchell of violating Senate Rules 56.1, 56.2, and 56.3, claiming she unlawfully entered an elderly relative’s home with the intent to steal.
The complaint also includes detailed accounts from the arresting officers in Detroit Lakes. According to their report, they were dispatched after a call came in reporting a break-in. The caller, referred to as the “Victim,” informed officers that the intruder had taken refuge in the basement.
Responding officers Ethan Wothe and Sternhagen conducted a search and soon found a woman dressed in all black — later identified as Nicole Mitchell — hiding in the basement. She was ordered to the ground and taken into custody. During the arrest, Mitchell reportedly told the homeowner something along the lines of, “I just wanted to get a few of my dad’s things. You’ve shut me out.”
Officer Wothe later described his brief conversation with Mitchell, saying she told him she had “just entered the house” and even admitted with a wry smile, “Clearly, I’m not very good at this.”
As the legal drama plays out, calls for Mitchell’s resignation continue to grow louder — leaving both her political future and her seat in the Senate hanging in the balance.
