Minnesota senator faces pressure to resign after burglary charge

• On Tuesday, the Becker County Attorney's Office charged her with first-degree burglary, a charge that Mitchell denies. The felony carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison.
• The criminal complaint stated the senator told officers her actions were connected to a dispute over her father's possessions.

What they're saying: In a Tuesday afternoon post on her Facebook page, Mitchell denied stealing, saying she was attempting to check on a family member experiencing a "decline due to Alzheimer's and associated paranoia."

• Her lawyer, Bruce Ringstrom, Sr., told Axios via email that the first-term senator has "no interest in resigning."

The big picture: Mitchell's arrest could create political and logistical problems for Minnesota Democrats, given their narrow 34-33 Senate majority.

• Any absences could leave majority Democrats unable to pass legislation without GOP votes ahead of a May 20 adjournment deadline.

The latest: Mitchell, who was booked into Becker County Jail on Monday, did not enter a plea during her first court appearance on Tuesday.

• The judge said she could be released on conditions that include having no contact with the victim.

Context: Mitchell, a former meteorologist and lieutenant colonel in the Air Force Reserve, was elected in 2022. An obituary shows her father died in 2023.

What we're hearing: Senate Republican Leader Mark Johnson (R-East Grand Forks) on Tuesday called for Mitchell's immediate resignation.

• "I understand the difficult situation her family is facing, however, the actions taken by Sen. Mitchell are disturbing," he said in a statement, calling the behavior outlined in the complaint "unbecoming" of a legislator.
• The state Republican Party and Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus have issued similar statements.

Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy (DFL-St. Paul) described the alleged actions as "far outside the character [Mitchell] has established in the Senate and in her distinguished career in the military."

• She said in a statement that while Mitchell "has the right to a full defense of her case in court," she "must also have serious and difficult conversations with her colleagues, constituents and family" in the weeks ahead.

Details: Officers responding to the scene just before 5am on Monday discovered Mitchell in the basement "dressed in all black clothing and a black hat" with a flashlight that had a "black sock covering" it nearby, the charging document states.

• Mitchell's statement said she visited the home after learning of "medical information that caused me grave concern" about her family member.

• She said that she had been to this home "countless times in the past 20 years … Unfortunately, I startled this close relative, exacerbating paranoia."

According to the complaint:

• Mitchell, who admitted to making the 3 1/2-hour drive from the Twin Cities in the middle of the night and entering through a basement window, told officers she had "just gotten into the house" and said, "Clearly I'm not good at this."
• As she was being detained, Mitchell said to her stepmother something along the lines of: "I was just trying to get a couple of my dad's things because you wouldn't talk to me anymore."
• She told police that her stepmother had cut off contact after an argument and that she wanted possession of sentimental items such as his ashes, a flannel shirt, and pictures.

Zoom in: A backpack at the scene contained Mitchell's IDs, a cellphone, Tupperware, and two laptops, per the complaint. Mitchell told police that both of the computers were hers. But one showed her stepmother's name when powered on.

• Mitchell reportedly claimed it was given to her by the victim, but her stepmother disputed that claim.

What's next: Her next court appearance is scheduled for June 10.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to include a Tuesday afternoon statement from Mitchell and her lawyer.