Judge slaps Minnesota senator Nicole Mitchell with restraining order as she appears in court via Zoom charged with breaking into her stepmother's house in the early hours to 'just get some of her father's things'
- Mitchell, 49, a veteran of both the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, said that she was trying to retrieve some items that belonged to her late father, Rod, who passed away in March 2023
Minnesota Democrat Nicole Mitchell was hit with a restraining order after she made her first appearance in court, via Zoom, after being arrested for allegedly breaking into the home of her stepmother in the early hours of Monday.
Mitchell, 49, a veteran of both the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, said that she was trying to retrieve some items that belonged to her late father, Rod, who passed away in March 2023.
The suspect goes on to accuse her stepmother of no longer speaking with her about her father's possessions. In a statement, Mitchell said that her stepmother is suffering with Alzheimer's disease.
The arresting officer wrote in the complaint that he heard Mitchell tell her stepmother 'something to the effect of, 'I was just trying to get a couple of my dad's things because you wouldn't talk to me anymore.'
The complaint charges Mitchell with one count of first-degree burglary, a felony. Becker County Judge Gretchen Thilmony allowed Mitchell to go free on the condition that she not contact her stepmother.
Nicole Mitchell, 49, a Minnesota state senator and a former Air Force Reserve Lieutenant Colonel, was arrested for suspected burglary in Detroit Lakes
Nicole Mitchell pictured with her father, Rod, in a photo posted to Facebook in 2011. Rod Mitchell passed away in March 2023
Although Senate Republicans called on Mitchell to resign, she's expected to return to her duties. Her trouble comes at an awkward time for Senate Democrats, who hold just a one-seat majority with just under four weeks left in the legislative session.
Mitchell's attorney, Bruce Ringstrom Sr., said in an interview that the dispute arose out of a 'fractured relationship' between the senator and her stepmother that has been aggravated by age-related issues.
'It's not exactly the wicked stepmother from Cinderella,' Ringstrom said.
Ringstrom said he´s sure there will be 'internal discussions' among Senate Democrats regarding her future but that she´s entitled to a presumption of innocence.
He said he told her to suppress her instincts 'as a media person, a weather person and politician,' and that she agreed 'to hold her tongue and say nothing.'
But in a post later on Facebook, Mitchell denied stealing. She did not, however, explain why she entered the home without permission in the middle of the night.
'Like so many families, mine is dealing with the pain of watching a loved one decline due to Alzheimer´s and associated paranoia. ... This has been a true tragedy for our family and my hope is it can return to being a private matter,' Mitchell wrote.
The senator wore an orange jumpsuit and looked tense but said little during her brief court appearance. She did not enter a plea.
Colleagues expressed shock, noting her Senate work on veterans and climate policies - along with her prior military and TV meteorology career
The Air Force Reserve Lieutenant Colonel was an aerial reconnaissance weather officer with the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron
Mitchell´s father, Rod Mitchell, died in March 2023 at the age of 72, according to his obituary. He had been married to Mitchell´s stepmother for 40 years, it said.
'I know I did something bad,' the criminal complaint quoted Mitchell as saying.
Mitchell was dressed all in black and wearing a black hat when she was arrested, the complaint said. The officer said he discovered a flashlight near her that was covered with a black sock, apparently modified to control the amount of light coming from it.
Mitchell told the officer she was after pictures, a flannel shirt, ashes and other items, but that her stepmother had cut off all contact with her, according to the complaint.
The lawmaker acknowledged entering through a basement window that had been propped open with a black backpack, the complaint said.
Officers found her Senate ID inside it. She claimed her stepmother had given her a laptop found in her backpack 'way back when,' but the stepmother disputed that. The senator, who has a law degree, also indicated that she got caught soon after entering.
'Clearly I'm not good at this,' it quoted her as saying.
The stepmother said in an interview that she's afraid of her stepdaughter. She also said that although most of her husband's ashes were buried, she sent Mitchell a miniature container with some of them.
Ringstrom, however, said that account is 'not totally accurate.'
Mitchell was born in Fargo and raised in Minnesota, with her family moving to Woodbury in 1986, according to her official bio
Mitchell had been a weather forecaster since the early 2000s
Democratic Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy, of St. Paul, called the allegations 'upsetting' but indicated that Mitchell will be allowed to return to her duties.
'We believe in due process, and Senator Mitchell has the right to a full defense of her case in court,' Murphy said in a statement.
Republican Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson, of East Grand Forks, said in a statement that she should step down. The complaint describes allegations of disturbing conduct unbecoming of a legislator, including extensive preparations to burglarize a relative´s home, he said.
Mitchell was a meteorologist with the U.S. military, KSTP-TV, Minnesota Public Radio and The Weather Channel before she was elected in 2022 from a suburban St. Paul district.
Mitchell´s next court appearance is set for June 10.
Mitchell represents the 47th district and 85,000 residents. Her district includes the city of Woodbury outside of St. Paul.
During her time in the Senate, Mitchell has worked on policies relating to veterans, child protection and climate change.
She also helped introduce a bill calling for criminal penalties for those who fail to meet safe firearm storage standards while also co-authoring a bill proposing incarcerated people in the state to be relocated from prisons to their last stated address.
Lt Col. Mitchell was particularly telegenic and would often front pieces to camera when required on behalf of the military
Mitchell would fly on the WC-130J Super Hercules though the eye of active hurricanes to collect weather data using aircraft - known as a team called 'Hurricane Hunters'
On her campaign page, Mitchell noted that for an end-of-session party in 2023 she planned to hold a fundraiser to continue to work on 'reproductive rights, climate change, voting rights, gun safety, trans rights and addressing hunger in Minnesota.'
Mitchell was born in Fargo and raised in Minnesota, with her family moving to Woodbury in 1986, according to her official bio.
She was editor-in-chief of her high school newspaper and was elected Woodbury Days Princess.
'She also grew up with a love of the outdoors, often accompanying her father fishing and her stepfather hiking and camping in various beautiful Minnesota locations. Even after camping and hiking various locations around the world as an adult, the Boundary Waters and North Shore are still favorite locations of hers to hike or camp,' her campaign site reads.
She joined the military out of high school and worked for the Air National Guard as a Weather Observer then forecaster.
During her time in the military she served as a meteorologist for the Air Force's 'Hurricane Hunters' which flies planes into storms to gather details before they impact America.
She flew into hurricanes Charley, Katrina, Wilma and Harvey.
'As both a well-respected communicator, military member, and scientist, Nicole is often personally requested for speaking events and engagement in the military community,' her bio reads.
She earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Minnesota and worked for a TV station in Duluth as an assignment manager. She later started to do the TV weather.
Mitchell worked as a TV meteorologist in Rapid City, South Dakota, South Bend, Indiana and Tulsa, Oklahoma.
She then moved on to the Weather Channel before joining Al-Jazeera America and CBS. While working at the Weather Channel, she earned her law degree from Georgia State University.
The Air Force vet moved back to Minnesota in 2016 to start her family - her son is now five - and worked for TV and radio as a meteorologist before running for office.
Mitchell obtained her foster care license in 2018 and provided for six kids in full-time care, including three with special needs.
'In her free time, Nicole has always believed strongly in a commitment to community service and volunteerism,' her bio notes.
'The outreach she has done has included previously volunteering at a shelter for abused women, with children at a homeless shelter, as a Big Sister for Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for abused and neglected children.'
