On Monday, the Minnesota Senate approved bills under a cloud of controversy following the arrest, and subsequent charging of Senator Nicole Mitchell (D-Woodbury) for felony burglary. Mitchell’s deciding vote on the Senate Floor casts a shadow over the Senate and raises serious questions about the legitimacy of bills being passed.

“This is an unprecedented time for us in the Senate,” said Senator Lang (R-Olivia). “A sitting Senator, recently arrested and charged with a felony, continues to vote on significant issues, including Second Amendment rights and other highly partisan matters, that impact all Minnesotans.”

 

Lang joined Senate Republicans in launching a staunch protest and dissent of Sen. Mitchell casting the deciding vote in the Senate. The protest statement reads, “We protest and dissent against the vote on SF 5289 which was adopted by the Senate with a deciding vote being cast by someone clearly 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.

Senator Lang also supported additional motions to limit Sen. Mitchell’s influence on future Senate proceedings.

“The serious nature of this situation outlines the Democrats’ priority of placing their partisan agenda over upholding the integrity of the Senate as an institution,” Senator Lang stated. “As an elected official, licensed attorney, and lieutenant colonel in the Air National Guard, Mitchell is held to a high ethical standard. With Mitchell being the deciding vote on legislation that determines the outcome of extremely partisan legislation, Minnesotans cannot be properly represented by someone who has failed to uphold those values. The right thing to do would be to resign.”

 

The official letter of dissent can be found here.