A Democratic Minnesota state lawmaker was convicted last week of burglary, which stemmed from an incident last year in which she attempted to steal some of her late father's possessions from the home of her estranged stepmother.

Following last week's guilty verdict, Minnesota State Sen. Nicole Mitchell (D) announced that she would resign her position, albeit not for at least a couple more weeks, according to The Hill.

That delay until early next month is unacceptable to Minnesota Senate Republicans, however, as they've been trying to expel or otherwise force an immediate resignation for Mitchell since her arrest in April 2024, and they accused their Democratic colleagues of protecting their criminally charged and convicted comrade to safeguard the party's one-seat majority in the legislative body.

Convicted lawmaker will resign ... in two weeks

The Minnesota Reformer reported that Sen. Mitchell, following a five-day trial, was convicted by a jury on Friday of first-degree burglary and possession of burglary tools, for which she faces maximum prison sentences of 20 years and three years, respectively -- though she is unlikely to receive such sentences since she has no prior criminal record.

In a statement released on Monday, the convicted state senator's defense attorney announced that she would resign from office no later than August 4, which would grant her time to wrap up several items of unfinished business.

That includes completing unfinished legislation, wrapping up ongoing constituent services, transitioning her legislative staff, and obtaining health insurance for her son, according to Mitchell's lawyer, Dane DeKrey.

"Senator Mitchell’s constituents deserve for her legislative projects to be finalized or ready to hand off to her successor before she resigns," DeKrey said, according to USA Today. "Mitchell’s constituents also deserve to have their outstanding issues handled before her resignation." The attorney added that his client said, "It was the honor of her lifetime to serve her District and the State of Minnesota."

Convicted of burglarizing her stepmother's home

Per the Reformer, state prosecutors convinced the jury that Sen. Mitchell broke into her estranged stepmother's Detroit Lakes home in the early morning hours of April 22, 2024, with the intent to steal some of her late father's possessions, and the evidence they presented in support of that argument included police body-cam footage that featured the defendant admitting as much to the arresting officers.

Mitchell, who testified in her own defense, failed to convince the jury that she had merely been conducting a late-night welfare check on her stepmother, who allegedly suffers from Alzheimer's disease-induced paranoia.

The state senator, who previously served as an Air National Guard lieutenant colonel and was a meteorologist, was found guilty by the jury after just a few hours of deliberation, but plans to appeal the burglary conviction, according to her attorney.

The Reformer noted that a sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled and, for the first time since Mitchell's arrest more than a year ago, Senate Democratic Leader Erin Murphy finally called upon her criminally charged and convicted colleague to resign her seat.

Republicans demand immediate resignation

Following Friday's conviction, Minnesota Senate Republican Leader Mark Johnson said in a statement, "The verdict only confirms the fact that Sen. Mitchell’s actions the night of April 22, 2024 failed to meet the level of ethical behavior we expect from elected officials, and her continued participation in the Minnesota Senate leaves the body with a stain on its record for every time her vote was the deciding vote in passing legislation."

"Senate Republicans have been clear since day one that this conduct is unbecoming of a Senator, and we expect her immediate resignation from the Senate," he added. "If she is unwilling to resign, she must be expelled as soon as possible to protect the integrity of the Senate."

Yet, after the announcement that Mitchell wouldn't resign until August 4, Johnson said, "Senator Mitchell was convicted of two felonies; she doesn’t get to give the Senate two weeks’ notice. Democrats shielded Mitchell for 15 months to protect their political power, but a jury needed just three hours to confirm what was already clear: she shouldn’t be a senator. Not after April 22, 2024. Not in January of 2025. And not today."

"The only reason Mitchell is still in office is because Democrats needed her vote to pass their agenda and refused to hold her accountable during session," the Republican Leader added. "They put political power ahead of Minnesotans, and Mitchell continues to put her personal interests ahead of institutional integrity."