Minnesota senator to resign following felony burglary conviction

The latest: Mitchell's attorney, Dane DeKrey, said in a statement that she will step down "no later than Aug. 4, 2025, at 5 pm."

• She'll use the next two weeks to wrap up outstanding legislative projects and constituent services, help her legislative staff find new jobs and obtain health insurance for her son, the statement said.
• "Once these tasks are completed, Senator Mitchell will tender her resignation," the statement adds. "It was the honor of her lifetime to serve her District and the State of Minnesota."

Catch up fast: Mitchell, a first-term senator and former lieutenant colonel in the Air National Guard, was found guilty Friday on charges stemming from her April 2024 arrest following a report of a break-in at her stepmother's Detroit Lakes home.

• The suburban lawmaker initially told police that she was there to retrieve some of her late father's ashes. But during the trial, Mitchell testified that she had traveled to the home in the dead of night to conduct a wellness check.

Between the lines: While Mitchell's attorney said she plans to file an appeal in the criminal case, the verdict sparked renewed calls for her to step aside.

• Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy, who had previously said Mitchell should be allowed to stay in the Senate until the trial concluded, released a statement saying she expected her colleague to resign in light of the outcome.

What to expect: While Democrats have carried the area covered by Mitchell's Woodbury-based seat in recent elections, the high stakes will likely drive a hotly contested — and expensive — race.

What's next: Gov. Tim Walz will need to call a special election to fill the suburban Twin Cities district once it is officially vacant.

Go deeper: Minnesota senator's guilty verdict could put Democrats' narrow majority in play.