Senator Resigns Following Felony Conviction of Stepmother’s Home Invasion

A Minnesota senator, who previously worked as a television meteorologist, announced her resignation after her stepmother was convicted of robbery. A judge took only three hours on Friday to convict 51-year-old Nicole Mitchell, who faced charges for possession of a robbery tool as a second felony.

The senator, representing suburbs east of St. Paul and affiliated with the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL), has a professional background that seems, well, quite at odds with being a convicted felon.

Before entering office in 2022, Mitchell served as a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force Reserve, where she commanded weather flights. Her career eventually led her to work as a meteorologist for various news outlets, landing her a position in 2017 with KSTP in Minneapolis.

Mitchell also obtained a law degree in 2010 and reportedly offered pro bono legal services to first responders, according to her Wikipedia bio.

On April 22, 2024, police arrested her following a robbery alert where they claimed she entered her stepmother, Carol Mitchell’s home on Lake Detroit. The two had been married for 40 years.

“Obviously I’m not good at this,” she mentioned during her arrest.

However, during her trial, she testified that her intentions were purely concern and care for her stepmother, who has Alzheimer’s disease, and that she hadn’t planned to steal anything.

This claim, though, was contradicted by police dash cam footage showing her behind a cruiser, asking officers, “I’m just trying to get some of my dad’s,” as reported by Fox.

Her lawyer indicated that the senator requires two weeks to fulfill legislative duties and wrap up matters before officially resigning on August 4.

Senate Republican leader Mark Johnson has urged her to resign immediately, stating that she has been convicted of two felonies and isn’t in a position to continue serving.