Democratic state senator charged with felony burglary

Will she resign from office?

KVRR and other news outlets are reporting that Sen. Nicole Mitchell (DFL-Woodbury) has been arrested in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. Detroit Lakes is the county seat of Becker County and sits some 217 miles from her Woodbury home.

Specifically, she was booked on 1st-degree burglary, a felony, for violating Minnesota Statute Chapter 609.582. The alleged burglary occurred at a private home owned by her stepmother and was reported by the homeowner. as reported by KFGO.

The Minneapolis Star Tribune has additional details. Of course, the incident quickly made national news and then, inevitably, international news.

According to the Becker County jail roster, Mitchell was booked Monday on 1st-degree burglary and was, as of Tuesday afternoon, no longer in custody. She was being held on $40,000 bail or $0 if she agrees to conditions.

The police complaint states the following:

The complaint continues:

She made her first court appearance Tuesday morning and was denied a public defender. She has been formally charged with the burglary felony. Her next court appearance is scheduled for June 10.

Later on Tuesday, Mitchell posted this statement on her senate Facebook page.:

Her state senate bio indicates that she is currently an Air Force officer and holds a law degree. She currently serves as VIce Chair of the senate’s state and local government committee.

Her campaign bio indicates that she formerly worked as a meteorologist for both KSTP-5 and MPR.

Currently, Democrats hold a one-seat majority (34-33) in the state senate. The senate is in recess until Wednesday at noon. Current senate rules (40.7 and 40.8) allow a member to vote remotely, through a proxy. There does not appear to be any prohibition against voting from jail or prison.

Her vote will be needed to break any ties in the state senate. Bill Walsh explained the whole remote voting process a year ago.

Mitchell is serving in her first term, elected in 2022. She prevailed in that race by more than 6,800 votes and her term runs through the end of 2026.