After a lengthy and embarrassing trial, Former Minnesota Democratic State Sen. Nicole Mitchell was convicted in July 2025 of felony burglary for breaking into her stepmother Carol’s Detroit Lakes home. At the time of the arrest, she claimed to seek sentimental items like her late father’s ashes amid a family dispute.
For context, the disgraced Democrat expressed her remorse in court, noting, “I messed everything up, and I did something wrong.” However, she was sentenced to a six-month jail sentence with work release and five years’ probation, resigning her seat.
In any case, before sentencing, the former state senator issued a tearful apology. “I messed everything up, and I did something wrong. And I will work on being a better person, and with whatever is decided here today, trying to use that time to reflect on how I possibly repair this,” she said.
Further, unwilling to accept her apology, Carol Mitchell expressed that she felt “extremely violated” following the incident. “But at least I know it’s going to hurt her … losing her children and losing her job … I guess there’s definitely repercussions for what she did,” she stated, adding that she didn’t think six months was enough time for “what she put me through.”
As we reported during her trial, Mitchell faced widespread condemnation. Slamming the disgraced democrat, State Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy reacted to her conviction by saying, “Senator Mitchell has been afforded due process, a trial by a jury of her peers, and that jury has delivered a verdict. I am relieved to see the end of Senator Mitchell’s trial.” Continuing on this subject, she remarked that the conviction “brings clarity to the situation.”
Rounding out her comments, she made it clear that Mithcell would be expected to resign. “Senator Mitchell has told colleagues that she intended to resign if found guilty of this crime, and I expect her to follow through on that pledge. Our caucus remains focused on the issues that matter to Minnesotan families and communities,” she added.
Reacting, State Senate Republican Leader Mark Johnson expressed his annoyance at the unprofessional nature of the case. “Senator Mitchell was convicted of two felonies; she doesn’t get to give the Senate two weeks’ notice,” he griped.
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Concluding his remarks, he turned his scorn to the State Democrats, saying, “The only reason Mitchell is still in office is because Democrats needed her vote to pass their agenda and refused to hold her accountable during the session.”
Initially, this case gained national attention due to the release of embarrassing body cam footage, which detailed the sensational arrest. During the arrest, the soon-to-be convicted Democrat argued that she was “just trying to get some of my dad’s things because you wouldn’t talk to me anymore” and astutely noted that she was “Clearly, I’m not good at this.”
During her absurd excuse, she claimed that her stepmother was”paranoid” and had Alzheimer’s Disease. Additionally, she alleged that the stepmother has “progressively cut off the family” and reiterated that she “just wanted to get a couple of my dad’s mementos.”