Minnesota state Sen. Nicole Mitchell (D) was charged with first-degree burglary on Tuesday after she allegedly broke into her stepmother’s house a day earlier to take her late father’s belongings.
Mitchell, 49, a first-term senator in Minnesota, was arrested at a home in Detroit Lakes on Monday after police responded around 4:45 a.m. to a homeowner’s 911 call.
Mitchell was found dressed in black clothing and a black hat. The state legislator later confessed that she entered the home through a basement window.
The items she is accused of attempting to steal include pictures, a flannel shirt and some ashes. While being placed under arrest, Mitchell said to her stepmother:
“I was just trying to get a couple of my dad’s things because you wouldn’t talk to me anymore,” she said.
Mitchell later denied the burglary allegation in a Facebook post, stating that she went to check on a loved one with Alzheimer disease after learning of medical information, which made her deeply concerned.
“Like so many families, mine is dealing with the pain of watching a loved one decline due to Alzheimer’s and associated paranoia,” Mitchell wrote.
Mitchell was released without bond on the condition she does not have contact with her stepmother, among other restrictions. A pretrial hearing in the case is scheduled for June 10.
According to reports, the home Mitchell was arrested in belongs to her stepmother. Mitchell’s father, Roderick Mitchell, died at age 72 in March 2023.
Following the arrest, Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson of East Grand Forks (R), released a statement calling Mitchell to step down due to allegations against her.
“The public expects Legislators to meet a high standard of conduct,” Johnson said. “As information comes out, we expect the consequences to meet the actions, both in the court of law and in her role at the legislature.”
Minnesota GOP Chairman David Hann issued a statement on Tuesday afternoon calling for Mitchell to resign from the Minnesota State Senate.
Chairman David Hann calls on DFL Senator Nicole Mitchell to resign: pic.twitter.com/WuNgvAKfj7
— Republican Party of Minnesota (@mngop) April 23, 2024
“The criminal charges against Senator Nicole Mitchell are severe and warrant her immediate resignation from the Minnesota Senate,” Hann said.
