Minnesota's DFL Chairman Ken Martin is calling for the resignation of Sen. Nicole Mitchell (DFL- Woodbury).
This comes after Mitchell was charged with first-degree burglary, a felony, after breaking into her stepmother's Detroit Lakes home last month.
Martin saying in part that Mitchell's continued refusal to take responsibility for her actions is beneath the office.
“The Minnesota DFL believes that all elected officials should be held accountable, including members of our own party," says in the statement released early Thursday morning. "While Sen. Mitchell is entitled to her day in court, her continued refusal to take responsibility for her actions is beneath her office and has become a distraction for her district and the Legislature. Now that her constituents have had full representation through the end of the legislative session, it is time for her to resign to focus on the personal and legal challenges she faces.”
Governor Tim Walz has also now called for Mitchell to step down.
WCCO-TV is reporting that Mitchell will not resign, and intends to serve until the criminal case is fully wrapped up.
Twin Cities' Public Televison political analyst Mary Lahammer says she's not surprised.
"Democrats really needed her to finish out the session," says LaHammer. "Now that session is over, I am hearing a lot of interest in former State Senator Susan Kent."
Senator Mitchell had said during the session, when Democrats controlled the Senate by just one vote, that she had no plans to resign. Her current term ends in 2027.
"Senator Mitchell vote with that one vote margin in the State Senate," says LaHammer. "That's as close as you can get in Minnesota politics and Democrats really needed her to finish out the session."
Republicans leaders in the Senate are critical the timing of the statement which comes after the legislative session wrapped up last week. With many of the bills passing by a one vote, party-line majority for the Democrats, Mitchell's vote was crucial despite the widespread criticism of her actions.
GOP Senate Leader Mark Johnson (East Grand Forks) says he's disappointed that the call for Mitchell to resign only came after the end of the session and that its despicable of Democrats to use "the votes of an alleged burglar" to pass their partisan agenda.
"DFL went to the mat to protect her and now as soon as they're done needing her votes, then they will throw her out to the wolves," says Johnson. "This is really quite a sad day in the state and I wish it was something that was done a long time ago."
Johnson adds that the Democrats passed a "highly partisan" agenda.
"I mean, if there is right and wrong in this world, it should be called for right away," he said. "There's no new information, no new facts that came out. This is something that the DFL should have been very strong about."
Mitchell never explained her actions to a Senate Ethics Committee investigation. The criminal complaint says Mitchell was found in the basement of her stepmother's home just before 5:00 a.m. on April 22 wearing all black clothing and a black hat.
In a Facebook post, Mitchell denied stealing and says she was checking on a loved one with Alzheimer's. Investigators said Mitchell told them she was trying to retrieve some of her deceased dad's belongings including pictures, a flannel shirt, and ashes, adding that her stepmother wouldn't talk to Mitchell and other family members.