Sen. Mitchell returns to work at the legislature as Republicans move to stop her votes

ST. PAUL (KVRR/CNN) — Sen. Nicole Mitchell is spotted returning to work at the Capitol after she was arrested and charged with burglary last week in Detroit Lakes.

The Democrat from Woodbury, a Twin Cities suburb, is accused of breaking into her stepmother’s home to retrieve some of her late father’s belongings including his ashes.

Mitchell claims she was simply performing a welfare check.

That is not what is outlined in an official criminal complaint.

Over the weekend, Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy announced that Mitchell had been relieved of her committee assignments and removed from caucus meetings.

Republicans want to stop Mitchell from voting during an ethics investigation.

“Sen. Nelson could you please sight the constitutional or senate rules authority for the action you are seeking here disqualifying a duly elected member of the senate from voting?” asked Sen. Ron Latz, a Democrat from St. Louis Park.

Sen. Carla Nelson, a Republican from Rochester responded, “It is disrespectful to the people that we represent. It is disrespectful to the body and it is essential that that vote not be counted.”

Democrats hold just a one seat advantage in the Senate.