Democrat Senator Convicted Of Felony Burglary | JP
No one is above the law, including those who make it!
A Democrat Minnesota state senator was convicted of felony burglary charges on Friday.
Minnesota state Sen. Nicole Mitchell, 51, was found guilty of felony burglary after she broke into her estranged stepmother’s home.
Yahoo News had the full scoop on Mitchell’s conviction:
A Minnesota state senator was convicted of burglary Friday for breaking into her estranged stepmother’s home, and faced calls for her immediate resignation from a closely divided chamber where she holds a deciding vote.
After about three hours of deliberations, the jury found Democratic state Sen. Nicole Mitchell, 51, guilty of first-degree burglary and possession of burglary tools. She told police right after her arrest that she went there to search for her father’s ashes and other mementos, but tried to back away from that story on the witness stand.
Mitchell displayed little emotion as the verdicts were read.
Democratic Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy was quick to issue a statement saying that Mitchell has told colleagues that she planned to resign if convicted, “and I expect her to follow through on that pledge.”
Republican Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson reiterated the GOP’s long-standing demand for immediate resignation or face expulsion.
Gov. Tim Walz’s office said he expects her to resign. But one of Mitchell’s attorneys, Dane DeKrey, said in text messages that he didn’t know if she would heed the calls. He said they’re exploring their options for an appeal.
The Democrat from the St. Paul suburb of Woodbury maintained her innocence and refused to resign since her arrest in the early hours of April 22, 2024, at her stepmother’s home in the northwestern Minnesota city of Detroit Lakes.
Minnesota state Sen. Nicole Mitchell convicted of felony burglary for breaking into estranged stepmother’s home https://t.co/sh17fn8UzI pic.twitter.com/3vA1V4wbOV
— New York Post (@nypost) July 19, 2025
Axios reported how much jail time Mitchell could face:
The felony burglary charge carries a minimum sentence of six months in jail, per Mitchell’s attorney, and a maximum sentence of 20 years.
A sentencing date has not been set.
Mitchell repeatedly rebuffed Republicans’ calls to resign over the charges in the wake of her arrest.
While some top Democrats, including Gov. Tim Walz, have said they thought she should step down, the Senate DFL Caucus repeatedly blocked GOP efforts to remove her from her seat.
Defenders of Mitchell remaining in the Legislature, including Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy, acknowledged the serious nature of the allegations, but said Mitchell had a right to due process.
🚨BREAKING: Minnesota State Senator Nicole Mitchell, a Democrat, has been found guilty of felony first-degree burglary and possession of burglary tools. The charges stem from Mitchell breaking into her estranged stepmother’s home.
Mitchell faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 6… pic.twitter.com/4Wk2GKyC2V
— I Meme Therefore I Am 🇺🇸 (@ImMeme0) July 19, 2025
What’s going on in Minnesota politics?