The Senate reconvened Wednesday for the first time since Mitchell’s arrest early Monday at her estranged stepmother’s home in Detroit Lakes. Mitchell was charged Tuesday with one count of first-degree burglary and allowed to go free after a day in jail. Her absence from the Senate has drawn attention due to the Senate Democrats’ narrow one-seat majority, making her vote critical for passing disputed legislation. Despite calls for her resignation from Republican leaders, Democratic Majority Leader Erin Murphy stated that Mitchell would be permitted to vote remotely. According to the criminal complaint, Mitchell claimed she broke into her stepmother’s home because she was denied access to sentimental items that belonged to her late father, including his ashes. Her attorney attributed the dispute to a strained relationship between the two, exacerbated by age-related issues. Mitchell has denied stealing in a social media post. Senate Republicans filed an ethics complaint against Mitchell before Wednesday’s Senate session and pushed for an immediate vote to initiate the investigation and consider her expulsion. Under normal Senate rules, the process of initiating an ethics investigation could take up to 30 days, potentially delaying action until after the legislative session. GOP Sen. Eric Lucero emphasized the importance of holding senators to high ethical standards and maintaining public trust, calling for a swift examination of the felony charge. However, Democratic Sen. Nick Frentz defended Mitchell’s right to due process and the presumption of innocence, citing precedents of other lawmakers facing charges who were allowed to complete the legal process. The debate concluded with a 33-33 tie vote, leaving Mitchell’s desk empty. Majority Leader Murphy indicated that a timeline for considering the GOP ethics complaint has yet to be determined, as the process is designed to be challenging. The Senate ethics panel comprises two Democrats and two Republicans, and any vote to expel a senator requires a two-thirds majority.
Ethics Investigation of Minnesota State Senator Delayed After Tie Vote
