Friends and neighbors,

Senate Republicans are taking immediate actions to resolve the serious situation involving Democrat Senator Nicole Mitchell of Woodbury, who was arrested Monday morning and charged with first-degree felony burglary.

You can read the criminal complaint here, but this is what happened: Early Monday morning, Senator Mitchell unlawfully entered her stepmother's home through a basement window. Senator Mitchell admitted to "doing something bad" and explained her actions as an attempt to retrieve personal items following her father’s death. Among those items were a laptop (which her stepmother denies giving to Senator Mitchell) and Senator Mitchell’s father’s ashes (which the stepmother claims to have already sent to Senator Mitchell).

Senator Mitchell deserves the right to due process and is presumed innocent until proven guilty in the eyes of the law, but the Senate must also address this matter with the gravity it demands.

We have done two things:

First, Senate Republicans have filed an ethics complaint against Senator Mitchell. Senate Democrats have failed to either acknowledge the seriousness Senator Mitchell’s actions or join us in calling for Senator Mitchell's resignation. We must protect the integrity of the Senate, and all members of the Senate must be held to the highest ethical standards.

Second, Senate Republicans made a motion during Wednesday’s floor session to immediately launch an investigation into Senator Mitchell’s actions and conduct based on the ethics complaint. Democrats blocked our efforts to begin this investigation.

This is only the beginning. These steps are critical not only for maintaining the trust and integrity of the Minnesota Senate but also for reinforcing the principle that no one is above the law. It cannot be swept under the rug.

I will keep you updated as this situation develops. If you have any questions, please let me know.