As session nears, status of a Minnesota lawmaker facing criminal charges remains a flashpoint
Disagreement over the Senate membership of a Democratic lawmaker arrested for burglary earlier this year bubbled up again Tuesday as legislative leaders prepare for the 2025 session.
During a virtual panel hosted by the law firm Fredrikson and Byron, Republican leaders urged Democrats to remove state Sen. Nicole Mitchell from the chamber and start the session with an even 33-33 split. GOP lawmakers repeatedly called for Mitchell to step down or be removed from the Senate this spring following news of the Woodbury legislator’s arrest at her stepmother’s home in Detroit Lakes.
The renewed calls come as lawmakers prepare to share custody over the Minnesota House. Democrats hold a one-vote edge in the Senate after a special election in the Twin Cities suburbs.
Hearings and a possible trial in Mitchell’s case could coincide with the early days of the legislative session. A settlement conference is scheduled for Dec. 31.
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2024/12/10/as-session-nears-status-of-a-minnesota-lawmaker-facing-criminal-charges-remains-a-flashpoint