Fri, Apr 5th, 2024 - 5:55am
May 07, 2024 - 5:28am | By Ty Schonert
(Detroit Lakes, MN) -- An arrested Minnesota Senator is facing criticism from a local Minnesota DFL lawmaker.
Senator Nicole Mitchell was arrested on burglary charges after authorities allege she was attempting to take her recently-deceased father's ashes from a home in Detroit Lakes. Senator Rob Kupec, who represents the city and much of Clay County, told us "this is a very concerning situation, and there's a lot of questions that still need to be answered."
"The legal investigation is underway and the case has been sent to the Senate Ethics Subcommittee – which will review it on Tuesday - and Senator Mitchell has been removed from her committee assignments and caucus meetings," continued Senator Kupec. "The Minnesota Senate has never acted to remove a member’s ability to vote on the floor without any due process. It is Senator Mitchell's constituents who decide who represents them – not the Republicans in the Senate or the Democrats in the Senate -- and they are entitled to that representation. While the case is under review both in the courts and in the Senate, Senator Mitchell must have some tough conversations with her family and her constituents and seriously consider her future in the legislature."
The statement comes as Minnesota lawmakers are nearing the end of the legislative session, and multiple high-profile bills are facing party-line votes. Without Mitchell, the Senate would be 33-33, and would require GOP support to pass remaining legislation. Senator Mark Johnson, Minnesota's Senate Minority Leader, issued harsh criticism to both Senator Mitchell and his DFL colleagues. He warns of possible retaliation through the ballot box.
"I don't know if there is much that we can do this year other than highlight what is going on down here, but remember in November," said Senator Johnson.
