Minnesota State Senator Steve Drazkowski (R-Mazeppa) spoke Tuesday in support of a Senate Republican motion that would make it the formal position of the Senate that Democrat Senator Nicole Mitchell should resign in the wake of a felony charge and pending ethics investigation. Sen. Mitchell was charged last week with felony first-degree burglary after she broke into a family member’s home. 

Watch Senator Drazkowski’s floor speech here. 

The effort follows similar motions Senate Republicans have made in recent days, including one by Senator Drazkowski that would have prohibited the Secretary of the Senate from registering a vote cast by a Senator charged with a crime of violence. Democrats rejected each of these motions, with Senator Mitchell casting the deciding vote. 

“The Senate is faced with a choice – protect the integrity of the institution or protect a Democrat member charged with a felony,” Senator Drazkowski said. “Over and over, Senate Democrats have chosen to cover for Senator Mitchell. They care only about protecting their power so they can pass their extreme liberal agenda.”  

During his comments, Senator Drazkowski asked Senate Democrat Leader Erin Murphy to confirm rumors that Democrats privately asked Senator Mitchell to resign, despite their refusal to do so publicly. Senator Murphy did not provide a straight answer.