Minnesota State Senator Nicole Mitchell was convicted Friday of felony burglary after a Detroit Lakes jury found her guilty of breaking into her stepmother’s home last year.
Mitchell was arrested in April 2024 after police found her dressed in black with latex gloves, a crowbar, and a flashlight covered by a black sock. Mitchell claimed she went to the home to retrieve items that belonged to her late father. She also admitted to trespassing and confessed to lying to police, citing concern for her stepmother, who she said suffers from Alzheimer’s disease, according to a report by Axios.
The jury convicted Mitchell on charges of first-degree burglary and possession of burglary tools. She declined to comment to reporters after the verdict, but her attorney stated she plans to appeal the conviction.
Mitchell has faced growing pressure to resign since her arrest, including from members of her own party. However, Minnesota Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy previously said Mitchell should first have her day in court.
"Senator Mitchell has been afforded due process, a trial by a jury of her peers, and that jury has delivered a verdict. I am relieved to see the end of Senator Mitchell’s trial. The case’s resolution brings clarity to the situation," Murphy said in a statement following the verdict. "Senator Mitchell has told colleagues that she intended to resign if found guilty of this crime, and I expect her to follow through on that pledge. Our caucus remains focused on the issues that matter to Minnesotan families and communities."
Mitchell has not yet been sentenced but faces a minimum of six months in jail. If she refuses to resign, Governor Tim Walz has the authority to call a special legislative session for an expulsion vote, which would require a two-thirds majority in the state Senate to forcibly remove her from office.
