In a recent development within the Minnesota Senate, Senator Bonnie Westlin (DFL – Plymouth) has joined the ranks of those urging Senator Nicole Mitchell (DFL-Woodbury) to step down. Echoing concerns voiced by state Democratic leaders and Governor Tim Walz, Westlin cited the importance of distraction-free governance and honorable service to constituents as pivotal reasons for her stance. Following the close of the legislative session, the senator's capacity to serve without the encumbrance of her legal troubles could be compromised.
The call for resignation comes as Mitchell grapples with criminal charges that have led to a creeping cloud of controversy hovering over the Capitol. "The legislative session has adjourned, and her immediate representation of her constituents has been fulfilled," Westlin stated in a release, emphasizing the necessary shift in focus from representational duties to the resolution of Mitchell's legal challenges. Despite an acknowledgment of the Senate's historical precedent to refrain from ethics rulings amidst active criminal proceedings, Westlin demarcated a line between past practice and present necessity, according to the statement released by the Senate DFL caucus.
According to Minnesota Senate DFL, Westlin criticized the Senate Republicans for "wasted precious hours on dilatory motions and rules maneuvers in an attempt to grab power," suggesting such tactics detracted from productive legislative debate and the passage of essential bills. This pointed critique aligns with Westlin’s previous votes against what she viewed as the imposition of irregular standards upon Senator Mitchell by the minority party. Yet, the intricacies of ethics and representation have nudged Westlin toward supporting a departure from the status quo in this exceptional circumstance.
In her call for Mitchell's resignation, Westlin emphasized the fairness owed to Mitchell's constituents and her senate colleagues, "I call on Senator Mitchell to do the right thing, the selfless thing, for her district, her family, and her colleagues, which is to resign immediately," as stated in the same report. This summates a narrative not of swift judgment but a considered multiplicity of factors bound up in representation, due process, and the broader interests of Minnesota’s governance.
