Minnesota Democrat Nicole Mitchell Convicted of Burglary, Faces Up to 20 Years in Prison
In yet another shocking scandal to hit the Democratic Party, Minnesota state Sen. Nicole Mitchell was convicted Friday of felony burglary, stemming from an incident in which she illegally broke into her stepmother’s home in April 2024.
The verdict comes after more than a year of public scrutiny and bipartisan calls for Mitchell to resign. The disgraced Democrat now faces a prison sentence ranging from six months to 20 years, according to Fox News.
Despite overwhelming evidence, some members of her own party tried to shield her from accountability. Among them was Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy, who released a tepid statement after the conviction:
“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 added that Mitchell had previously vowed to resign if found guilty and said she expects her to “follow through on that pledge.”
Mitchell’s criminal activity came to light after she was caught unlawfully entering the home of her stepmother, Carol Mitchell. The senator initially claimed she was there to retrieve items belonging to her deceased father — a narrative she repeated throughout the trial. However, under oath, she admitted to both trespassing and lying to police about her motives.
Video presented during the trial showed Mitchell handcuffed in the back of a police cruiser, admitting, “I was just trying to get some of my dad’s things,” and candidly adding, “Clearly, I’m not good at this.”
When officers confronted Carol Mitchell, she confirmed the intruder’s identity with a hint of disbelief.
“She’s my stepdaughter,” Carol told the officers. “She’s also a Minnesota senator.”
“She’s a senator?” an officer asked.
“Yes, well was,” Carol replied, correcting herself and acknowledging the arrest’s implications.
Police bodycam footage also captured Mitchell face-down on the floor, being arrested. Among the items found in her possession were two laptops, a cellphone, a flashlight wrapped in a black sock, and several containers. She had also brought a backpack that contained her Senate ID and driver’s license — hardly the belongings of someone casually dropping by for sentimental memorabilia.
Prosecutors said Mitchell had deliberately parked away from the property and acted with premeditated intent. Her defense, meanwhile, clung to the claim that she was merely a concerned stepdaughter worried about her stepmother, who allegedly suffers from Alzheimer’s.
The stepmother, however, was unequivocal on the stand, stating that she felt “extremely violated” by the break-in.
If Mitchell honors her earlier commitment to resign, Democratic Gov. Tim Walz will be forced to call a special election to replace her in the Minnesota Senate — a move that could cost Democrats a critical seat.
The case adds to the DFL’s recent troubles. Just weeks ago, two prominent Minnesota Democrats and their spouses were targeted in violent shootings by an individual posing as a police officer. State Sen. John Hoffman survived the attack, but former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband tragically lost their lives.
“This was an act of targeted political violence,” Walz declared during a press conference.
The Democratic Party in Minnesota now finds itself engulfed in legal scandal and violent tragedy — a sobering reminder of how far the party’s once-proud image has fallen.