Minnesota State Senator Claims Checking on Ill Loved One during BNE | Democrat
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Democratic Minnesota state senator claims she was checking in on ill loved one during alleged burglary
And BnE
She entered the home via basement window
At 4 AM!!
Nokie Says
C: Let me make this clear.. I don't care if she is a Republican, or Democrat or Independent, or whatever political party, a felony crime is a crime...
C: Last I knew, 'Breaking and Entering' someone's home in any state is a crime. And she violated the sanctity of a persons home. But not so for special politicians, I guess!!!
C: I see it thusly, "If someone were to "let themselves in" uninvited through my basement window, dressed from head to toe in black, carrying a flashlight with a filter on it, they would most likely be on the receiving end of a few fired 9mm bullets...
C: Of the specified items she wanted, none of the them belong to the kid, they belong to the step mother as she was his wife. If she actually wanted them she could sue, but breaking in in the middle of the night is a crime. Well this is just a typical politician response, simply ignore the law because they are above it..
C: This politician is 49 years old. Father was married to step-mother for 40+ years. So, she was just a child when this women raised her to adulthood. 40+ years and this so-called educated politician cannot communicate with a person whom she has known for 40+ years. Something sort of off here...
C: She definitely had no business doing what she did. Someone this entitled and with this kind of judgement has no business whatsoever serving the public. Why is she still on the job? What was her bail?
C: Funny thing is, you just can't make this stuff up! Oh wait a sec, did you her the one about a guys uncle being eaten by cannibals after his plane was shot down? Or better yet, the appointed Cabinet member who stole suitcases of women's clothes from airports...
C: I'm fairly sure her 'step-mother' is a Republican and she is a Democrat. There it is, this poor step-daughter is a victim of MAGA hatred... When the police arrived they should have arrested the wicked, evil step-mother for calling the police on a Democrat...
C: Then there's this 'Presumption of Innocence'... But, but she was found inside the house and provided a confession!
C: Gist of the entire fiasco is this: All you wanna be and current criminals living in Becker County, Judge Gretchen Thilmony will allow you to go free after you commit crimes of BnE and Burglary.. So have at it and do not fear being held in jail for such crimes...
A Minnesota state senator and former broadcast meteorologist told police that she broke into her stepmother's home because her stepmother refused to give her items of sentimental value from her late father, including his ashes, according to burglary charges filed Tuesday.
Democratic state Sen. Nicole Mitchell, 49, of Woodbury, was arrested early Monday at the home in the northwestern Minnesota city of Detroit Lakes. The arresting officer wrote in the complaint that he heard Mitchell tell her stepmother "something to the effect of, ’I was just trying to get a couple of my dad's things because you wouldn't talk to me anymore.'"
The complaint charges Mitchell with one count of first-degree burglary, a felony. Becker County Judge Gretchen Thilmony allowed Mitchell to go free on the condition that she not contact her stepmother.
Although Senate Republicans called on Mitchell to resign, she's expected to return to her duties. Her trouble comes at an awkward time for Senate Democrats, who hold just a one-seat majority with just under four weeks left in the legislative session.
Mitchell's attorney, Bruce Ringstrom Sr., said in an interview that the dispute arose out of a “fractured relationship” between the senator and her stepmother that has been aggravated by age-related issues.
“It's not exactly the wicked stepmother from Cinderella,” Ringstrom said.
Ringstrom said he’s sure there will be “internal discussions” among Senate Democrats regarding her future but that she’s entitled to a presumption of innocence. He said he told her to suppress her instincts “as a media person, a weather person and politician,” and that she agreed “to hold her tongue and say nothing.”
But in a post later on Facebook, Mitchell denied stealing. She did not, however, explain why she entered the home without permission in the middle of the night and dressed all in black and with a black ball cap.
“Like so many families, mine is dealing with the pain of watching a loved one decline due to Alzheimer’s and associated paranoia. (But we are not that close and haven't spoke in months) This has been a true tragedy for our family and my hope is it can return to being a private matter,” Mitchell wrote.
The senator wore an orange jumpsuit and looked tense but said little during her brief court appearance. She did not enter a plea.
Mitchell’s father, Rod Mitchell, died in March 2023 at the age of 72, according to his obituary. He had been married to Mitchell’s stepmother for 40 years.
“I know I did something bad,” the criminal complaint quoted Mitchell as saying.
Mitchell was dressed all in black and wearing a black hat when she was arrested, the complaint said. The officer said he discovered a flashlight near her that was covered with a black sock, apparently modified to control the amount of light coming from it.
Mitchell told the officer she was after pictures, a flannel shirt, ashes and other items, but that her stepmother had cut off all contact with her, according to the complaint.
The lawmaker acknowledged entering through a basement window that had been propped open with a black backpack, the complaint said. Officers found her Senate ID inside it. She claimed her stepmother had given her a laptop found in her backpack “way back when,” but the stepmother disputed that. The senator, who has a law degree, also indicated that she got caught soon after entering.
“Clearly I'm not good at this,” it quoted her as saying. Breaking and entering that is...
The stepmother said in an interview that she's afraid of her stepdaughter. She also said that although most of her husband's ashes were buried, she sent Mitchell a miniature container with some of them. Ringstrom, however, said that account is “not totally accurate.”
Democratic Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy, of St. Paul, called the allegations “upsetting” but indicated that Mitchell will be allowed to return to her duties because she is a Democrat.
“We believe in due process, and Senator Mitchell has the right to a full defense of her case in court,” Murphy said in a statement.
Republican Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson, of East Grand Forks, said in a statement that she should step down. The complaint describes allegations of disturbing conduct unbecoming of a legislator, including extensive preparations to burglarize a relative’s home, he said.
Mitchell’s next court appearance is set for June 10.
