ST. PAUL, Minn — Both the Democratic and Republican leadership in the Minesota Senate renewed their calls for Senator Nichole Mitchell to resign. It wasn’t the first time. Majority Leader Erin Murphy, D-St. Paul, and Minority Leader Mark Johnson, R-East Grand Forks, had wanted Mitchell to step down. Back in April 2024 calls for her resignation were made when she was arrested with burglary tools inside her stepmother’s home in Detroit Lakes.
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Murphy: “Senator Mitchell has been afforded due process, a trial by a jury of her peers, and that jury has delivered a verdict. I am relieved to see the end of Senator Mitchell’s trial. The case’s resolution brings clarity to the situation. Senator Mitchell has told colleagues that she intended to resign if found guilty of this crime, and I expect her to follow through on that pledge.”
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Johnson: “I applaud the jury and the prosecution for their diligent work to deliver justice in this case. The verdict only confirms the fact that Senator Mitchell’s actions the night of April 22, 2024, failed to meet the level of ethical behavior we expect from elected officials, and her continued participation in the Minnesota Senate leaves the body with a stain on its record for every time her vote was the deciding vote in passing legislation. Senate Republicans have been clear since day one that this conduct is unbecoming of a senator and we expect her immediate resignation from the Senate. If she is unwilling to resign, she must be expelled as soon as possible to protect the integrity of the Senate.”