Minnesota Democrat convicted on felony burglary charge

Minnesota State Sen. Nicole Mitchell (D) was convicted of first-degree burglary on Friday after breaking into her stepmother's home last year.

Mitchell, who is a former meteorologist and lieutenant colonel in the Air National Guard, was arrested in April 2024, while serving her first term in the Minnesota Senate.

Mitchell has not indicated whether she will resign from her role in the statehouse, where Democrats hold a one-seat majority. Republicans have called for her resignation for months.

Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy (D) said in a statement that Mitchell told her colleagues she would resign if she were to be found guilty.

“I expect her to follow through on that pledge," Murphy said on Friday.

The judge has not set a sentencing date, but Mitchell could face prison time, The Associated Press reported.

During the trial, Mitchell denied all allegations, even though she admitted going through the window, according to bodycam footage. She said that she wasn’t planning on taking anything and that she was checking on her stepmother’s health issues.

She told the police, at the time of her arrest, “Clearly, I’m not good at this.” And, she told her estranged stepmother, “I was just trying to get a couple of my dad’s things because you wouldn’t talk to me anymore."

Minnesota Senate Republican Leader Mark Johnson (R), in a statement, once again condemned Mitchell's actions, stating "her continued participation in the Minnesota Senate leaves the body with a stain on its record for every time her vote was the deciding vote in passing legislation.”