Friends and neighbors,

I have a troubling update on the controversy surrounding Senator Nicole Mitchell, the Democrat who is charged with a felony of first-degree burglary and who is the subject of a pending ethics investigation.

During Monday’s floor session, Senator Mitchell cast the tie breaking vote on a supplemental jobs finance bill, compromising the integrity of the Senate’s work and calling into question the legitimacy of any legislation we pass moving forward.

Allowing Senator Mitchell to vote on any Senate business while facing these serious charges is unacceptable. We have a duty not just to our constituents, but also to the institution of the Minnesota Senate. We must uphold the highest standards of integrity. Sadly, Democrats have disregarded these standards to pursue their partisan agenda.

My Republican colleagues and I made several efforts to prevent Senator Mitchell from voting until her legal and ethical issues were resolved. Democrats rejected each of those attempts, with Senator Mitchell casting the deciding vote. This is willful neglect of the Senate’s integrity, and it shows they are prioritizing their partisan agenda over doing the right thing.

Following the passage of the jobs bill Monday, Republicans lodged a formal protest with the President of the Senate. The protest notes, “We protest and dissent against the vote on SF 5289 which was adopted by the Senate with a deciding vote being cast by someone unfit for office. We believe it is an abuse of power by both Sen. Mitchell, the Senate Majority Caucus, and its members.” It was signed by all 33 members of the Republican Caucus.

Rest assured, I remain committed to challenging these abuses of power at every opportunity. Our work in the Senate must reflect the honor and responsibility you expect from your elected officials.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. It is a privilege to serve you.

God Bless,