State Senator Nicole Mitchell (DFL - Woodbury) on Minnesota Senate Floor
WOODBURY, MN (WNN) – The state Senate Subcommittee on Ethical Conduct did not take action today after a hearing on two ethics complaints filed against Sen. Nicole Mitchell, DFL-Woodbury by Senate Republicans.
Mitchell has been charged with two felony counts for allegedly breaking into her stepmother’s house in Detroit Lakes last April. Mitchell has denied the charges and faces a criminal trial after the legislative session ends.
Mitchell told the subcommittee Woodbury is a growing community and deserves to be represented during the session.
She asked the panel to delay action on the first complaint that focused on the criminal charges, while asking for a dismissal of the second complaint claiming she violated a Senate rule on conflicts of interest. Mitchell voted in the Senate for a procedural move that ruled a motion to expel her was out of order, which prompted Republicans to file the second complaint.
Republicans argued the subcommittee should act immediately and that disciplinary action is warranted by Mitchell’s violation of the public trust.
The subcommittee is evenly split between Democrats and Republicans. They did not reach an agreement on the complaints.
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