UPDATED: Senator Rob Kupec comments on arrest of Senator Nicole Mitchell

(UPDATE 05/07/2023) -- WDAY Radio reached out to Senator Rob Kupec, who voted to allow Senator Nicole Mitchell to continue voting through the end of the legislative session. Below is a statement from Sen. Kupec.

“This is a very concerning situation, and there’s a lot of questions that still need to be answered. The legal investigation is underway and the case has been sent to the Senate Ethics Subcommittee – which will review it on Tuesday - and Senator Mitchell has been removed from her committee assignments and caucus meetings.

The Minnesota Senate has never acted to remove a member’s ability to vote on the floor without any due process. It is Senator Mitchell's constituents who decide who represents them – not the Republicans in the Senate or the Democrats in the Senate -- and they are entitled to that representation.

While the case is under review both in the courts and in the Senate, Senator Mitchell must have some tough conversations with her family and her constituents and seriously consider her future in the legislature."

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(St. Paul, MN) -- Minnesota GOP Lawmakers are giving an update on the session after a DLF Senator was arrested in April. 

Minnesota Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson spoke to The Flag's What's on your Mind about alleged ethical violations from DFL Senator Nicole Mitchell, who was arrested on Burglary charges near the end of the legislative session. Senate GOP members have moved to restrict Senator Mitchel from voting for the remainder of the session, a move that was blocked by DFL colleagues. 

"I don't know if there is much that we can do this year other than highlight what is going on down here, but remember in November," said Senator Johnson. 

GOP lawmakers point out the importance of Mitchell's seat, which currently sets the majority over to the DFL. Without Mitchell, the party would not have the votes needed to pass some pieces of legislation criticized by the GOP as "extreme." This includes policies related to education, abortion, firearm storage, and more. 

"Everything you can dream of on the left-wing side of things, they are going to try to complete that project in the next two years," said Johnson.

WDAY Radio has reached out to Senator Rob Kupec, who was one of many DFL lawmakers who voted to allow Senator Mitchell to keep voting through the end of the session.