Senator Nicole Mitchell. Co-chairing the joint Senate-House veterans and military affairs committee with Representative Jerry Newton. This committee session was before her arrest in Detroit Lakes on a burglary charge. Image: Catherine Davis
Guilty pleas aplenty among uncensured legislators
ST.PAUL, Minn. – Amid knee-jerk calls for State Senator Nichole Mitchell to resign even before her day court, the Minnesota Reformer posted some history: Five fellow legislators, both Democrats and Republicans, have had scrapes with the law and remained in office. In the case of Mitchell, a Democrat, the Senate Republican leadership was quick to demand her resignation. That failing, they demanded an ethics investigation. This all within hours of learning that Mitchell had been arrested inside a relative’s house. in Detroit Lake and charged with burglary. At the Minnesota Reformer, investigative reporter Christopher Ingraham compiled this list:
Representative Brion Curran, D-White Bear Lake. In 2023 she was arrested for drunken driving. She had gone into a ditch on Interstate 35. She pleaded guilty.
Representative Matt Grossell, R-Clearbrook. In 2019 he was arrested as drunk and disorderly, trespassing and driving drunk. This was at a Capitol area hotel. Blood-alcohol: 0.15%. He was ordered into rehabilitation.
Grossell again. In 2023 he was arrested for drunken driving and pleaded guilty.
Senator John Jasinski, R-Faribault. In 2020 he was arrested for driving drunk. Eventually he pleaded guilty to a lesser charge. He was placed on probation for one year.
Representative Dan Wolgamott, D-St. Cloud. In 2023 he was arrested for drunken driving. He had a just come out a liquor store buying more. He pleaded guilty.
Senator Tou Xiong, D-Maplewood. In 2022 he was arrested for drunken driving. Blood-alcohol level: O.11%. He pleaded guilty and was fined $288 and and placed on probation fone year.