Senator Nicole Mitchell Testifies Before Senate Ethics Committee

Minnesota State Senator Nicole Mitchell (DFL-Woodbury) testified before the Senate Ethics Committee on Thursday, addressing two ethics complaints filed against her.
Mitchell, who faces felony burglary and possession of burglary tools charges related to an alleged break-in at her stepmother’s home in Detroit Lakes last spring, spoke before the committee without legal counsel for the first time.
The first ethics complaint was originally filed last spring but was deferred until after Mitchell’s trial, which has been delayed until after the legislative session. Republicans argued that her additional charge of possessing burglary tools warranted new action, but Mitchell pushed back, stating:
“I’m here to ask that the committee continue to follow Senate custom and delay any decision until after any allegations are completely resolved.”
She also emphasized that removing her from office before a trial would disenfranchise her nearly 87,000 constituents, adding:
“They have asked me to stay and keep working for them, and they deserve representation.”
The committee ultimately voted to continue delaying action until after Mitchell’s court case in May.
A second new ethics complaint accused Mitchell of a conflict of interest for voting in January on a motion that impacted her potential expulsion from the Senate.
Republicans, led by Sen. Steve Drazkowski (R-Mazeppa), argued that Mitchell’s vote to uphold a procedural ruling against her removal violated Minnesota State Statute 10A.07, which prohibits lawmakers from taking actions that affect their own financial interests.
“There is no greater conflict of interest than preventing action that would result in a person’s own removal from the Senate,” Drazkowski said.
Democrats countered, arguing that the vote was purely procedural and did not determine whether Mitchell would actually be expelled.
With the Senate Ethics Committee deadlocked 2-2 along party lines, no action was taken on the new complaint.