In an urgent step to uphold the ethical standards of public office, Minnesota Senate Republicans, led by Sen. Eric Lucero (R-St. Michael), filed a formal ethics complaint against Sen. Nicole Mitchell (DFL-Woodbury) following her recent arrest and subsequent charge of felony first-degree burglary. Senate Democrats refused to ask for Sen. Mitchell’s resignation or remove her from committee positions, forcing Republicans to defend the integrity of the Senate and State of Minnesota and seek answers for the public.  

During a Senate Floor session on Wednesday, Sen. Lucero made a motion calling for the Rules Committee to immediately begin an investigation into Sen. Mitchell’s felony criminal charge.  

“Senators must be held to the highest standard of ethical conduct and the public trust has been violated. It is the duty and responsibility of the Senate to immediately begin due process proceedings under the ethics complaint, in accordance with Senate rules and procedures, to consider expelling Sen. Mitchell,” Sen. Lucero said. “A swift examination of the serious felony charge is required to ensure the integrity of the Senate and state of Minnesota is upheld.”    

The ethics complaint was filed with Senate President Bobby Joe Champion (DFL-Minneapolis) shortly before the Wednesday floor session. It documents three different rules Sen. Mitchell has broken:   

• 56.1 Members shall adhere to the highest standard of ethical conduct as embodied in the Minnesota Constitution, state law, and these rules.  

• 56.2 A member shall not publish or distribute written material if the member knows or has reason to know that the material includes any statement that is false or clearly misleading, concerning a public policy issue or concerning the member’s or another member’s voting record or position on a public policy issue. 

• 56.3 Improper conduct includes conduct that violates a rule or administrative policy of the Senate, that violates accepted norms of Senate behavior, that betrays the public trust, or that tends to bring the Senate into dishonor or disrepute.  

The Lucero motion also enforces due process and emphasizes Sen. Mitchell retains all rights to a fair legal process and is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Ethical standards expected of public officials require the allegations to be scrutinized without delay.  

Despite the gravity of the charges, Senate Democrats rejected the motion to immediately begin an ethics investigation.  

Sen. Lucero added, “The allegations against Sen. Mitchell cast a shadow over the integrity of the entire Minnesota Senate and any legislation the body votes on until the matter is addressed. According to the criminal complaint, after being read her Miranda warning, Sen. Mitchell confessed, “I know I did something bad.” The Senate must address this breach of trust in the swiftest and most decisive manner possible.”