SAINT PAUL, Minn. - On Saturday, Senator John Marty (DFL-Roseville), Senator Jen McEwen
(DFL-Duluth), Senator Tou Xiong (DFL-Maplewood) and Senator Omar Fateh (DFL-
Minneapolis) issued the following statement:
“In response to the calls for Senator Nicole Mitchell's resignation, we ask that she be given the
same rights and respect that all other Minnesota elected officials who have been charged with
crimes have been given.
The allegations against Senator Mitchell as reflected in the criminal complaint are out of
character for the Nicole Mitchell we have come to know. Certainly, we must not minimize the
serious nature of the charges against her, but neither should we rush to judgment based on a
police report, charging documents, or news stories. As she receives due process through the
courts, she will have the opportunity to properly respond to the allegations against her. At that
point, the courts and the public will hear all sides of the story.
We should handle criminal charges against an elected member of the Senate as we have
handled such charges in the past. In all previous cases, when a member has been charged with
a criminal offense, the Senate has first allowed the courts to complete their process. In cases
where the courts have convicted the official, the Senate Ethics Committee has then determined
what, if any, Senate actions are appropriate on top of the legal penalties.
Calls for Senator Mitchell to resign at this juncture are premature and many appear to be driven
by political considerations.
Senator Nicole Mitchell has done excellent work for the people of Minnesota. Her service to our
country in the military, and now in the Senate, has been filled with compassion, caring, and
thoughtful work. We are very proud of her leadership on Veterans issues, Foster Care, Child
Protection, Environmental Protection, Human Rights, and other issues.
While the legal process plays out, we fully support and expect that Senator Mitchell will
continue serving the people of Minnesota and her district."