https://x.com/libsoftiktok/status/1945178248196804914

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5750728&forum_id=2Elisa#49103796)

the video is hilarious.

https://alphanews.org/breaking-sen-nicole-mitchell-found-guilty-of-first-degree-burglary-possession-of-burglary-tools/

BREAKING: Sen. Nicole Mitchell found guilty of first-degree burglary, possession of burglary tools

The convictions will have major ramifications for the Minnesota Senate and the state's political landscape.

Sen. Nicole Mitchell, DFL-Woodbury, was found guilty of first-degree burglary in a stunning conclusion to a legal saga that began more than a year ago.

In April 2024, Mitchell was arrested and charged with first-degree burglary after allegedly breaking into her stepmother’s Detroit Lakes home with the intent to take items that once belonged to her late father. A second felony charge, possession of burglary or theft tools, was later added by prosecutors.

Mitchell’s trial began on Monday and featured body-camera footage, several witnesses, and the senator testifying in her own defense. On Friday, the defense rested their case and both sides made their closing arguments.

During the trial, Becker County Attorney Brian McDonald argued that Mitchell’s guilt was demonstrated by statements she made on the morning she was arrested by police.

Those statements include “I have never done anything like this,” “There were just a couple things of my dad’s I wanted to come get,” “I’m clearly not good at this,” “I know I did something bad,” and “I just wanted to get a couple of my dad’s mementos.”

Additionally, the prosecution highlighted how Mitchell entered the house through an egress window under cover of darkness, was dressed in black clothing, had a flashlight with a sock covering it, and went to great efforts not to be noticed.

McDonald argued that Mitchell was in the home with the intent to steal items. He told jurors to “trust your eyes and ears, do not get distracted, use your common sense and good judgement.” The prosecutor warned the jury that Mitchell’s testimony was “carefully crafted to protect the one person that she cares the most about in this case, herself.”

While Mitchell and her attorneys admitted the senator trespassed at her stepmother’s home, the defense said that fact was immaterial to the case because Mitchell was charged with burglary, not trespassing. A burglary conviction requires the state to prove someone broke into a building with the intent to commit a crime.

Defense attorney Bruce Ringstrom Jr. said the senator was not in the home to steal items that belonged to her father, but was there to do a welfare check on her 75-year-old stepmother, Carol, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease several years ago.

Testifying in her own defense, Mitchell said Carol was declining due to Alzheimer’s disease and Mitchell felt Carol’s family was not providing proper assistance. As such, the senator said she went to Detroit Lakes to check on her stepmother and review how she was living.

Mitchell told the jury she tried to be undetected because Carol would be enraged if she knew someone was checking on her or looking for evidence of her decline.

According to the defense, Mitchell’s statements from her arrest were “white lies” Mitchell told to keep her stepmother from knowing the real reason she was in the home. At trial, Mitchell said she did not take anything from the home and did not intend to take anything.

After a three-hour deliberation, the jury convicted Mitchell of both felony charges.

The convictions will have major ramifications for Mitchell personally and the state Senate. Under Minnesota law, a conviction of first-degree burglary carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a $35,000 fine, or both. Mitchell has two young sons.

Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy, DFL-St. Paul, released a statement after Mitchell’s convictions which said “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.”

In the Senate, Democrats have a one-seat majority (34-33). With Mitchell’s conviction, the Senate is poised to be evenly split between the GOP and the DFL. In turn, a special election will likely be called to fill Mitchell’s seat with the winner determining which party controls the chamber.

The Senate seat in question, District 47, includes all of Woodbury and part of Maplewood. In 2022, Mitchell won the seat by roughly 17 points.

“Senate Republicans have been clear since day one that this conduct is unbecoming of a Senator and we expect [Mitchell’s] immediate resignation from the Senate,” said Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson, R-East Grand Forks, after the verdict was announced. “If she is unwilling to resign, she must be expelled as soon as possible to protect the integrity of the Senate.”

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5750728&forum_id=2Elisa#49113192)