Eva Burns

ACCOUNTABILITY. Mitchell needs to go. Accountability should start before the court date because the democratic system cannot be preserved if politicians are not role models of lawful behavior. (Made with Canva using images from Canva Wireframes, Heni Silvia, codenamerahul, smaicons, and Handicon)

What happens when a politician is arrested? Apparently, not much.

On April 22, 2024, Minnesota Sen. Nicole Mitchell (DFL) was taken into custody by local authorities after allegedly burglarizing her estranged stepmother’s house to retrieve items belonging to her late father. After her arrest, she released a statement claiming she was only there to check on her stepmother’s health. Although Mitchell continues to assert her innocence, her arrest and burglary charges tarnish her credibility as an elected official, undermining the public’s trust in the government. Citizens elect politicians to represent them by making decisions and influencing the formulation of public policy. Judgment of these significant political choices will not be trusted when substandard conduct has occurred before.

During a Senate ethics hearing on May 7, 2024, Mitchell pleaded not guilty to the first-degree burglary charge. Most recently, on Feb. 10, a second charge of possession of burglary or theft tools was filed by prosecutors, claiming she used a crowbar to enter her stepmother’s home. Now, she awaits her trial, scheduled for mid-June. While in America, the principle of “innocent until proven guilty” is fundamental, actions and evidence that suggest guilt cannot be ignored. In this case, accountability should start before the court date because the democratic system cannot be preserved if politicians are not role models of lawful behavior.

Since her arrest, members of Mitchell’s own party have called for her resignation, stating in a press release on May 30, 2024, “All elected officials should be held accountable.” Other important Minnesota politicians, including Gov. Tim Walz, have also expressed that she should step down. However, Mitchell has survived two expulsion votes in the Senate, the most recent of which was launched by Republicans in January. This is because, in the Senate, the DFL holds the majority by only one seat. Given the current polarization in the Legislature, Mitchell’s presence is vital to the success of the DFL’s policies. This disturbing trend of politicians caring more about holding onto party power rather than upholding the law is echoed on the national level. The DFL needs to rise above its short-term self-interest and hold elected officials accountable.

The statements urging her resignation have been repeatedly ignored. Empty promises are a consistent presence in politics; this inaction is only a tiny part of the bigger problem. By not acting decisively, the DFL is losing additional credibility at a time when political transparency is critical to upholding democracy. How can the public be expected to put its faith in government when the government isn’t liable for its actions? That’s easy–they can’t.

In Minnesota, Mitchell’s situation is not unique. From 2019 to 2023, five other state legislators have been arrested–all charged with driving while intoxicated–and were not removed from office. It is imperative that legislators who commit crimes be held accountable and removed from office to maintain government integrity. Politicians are supposed to be the standard and the role model, not the example of misconduct.

Mitchell’s case is no exception, making it crucial to the credibility and integrity of the Minnesota Legislature and the DFL party that she resigns immediately.