WELL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR INSIGHTSES.
>> Mary: THANK YOU.
THE SENATE ETHICS COMMITTEE WILL BEGIN CONVENING NEXT WEEK TO START CONVERSATIONS ABOUT TWO LAWMAKERS, BUT SENATOR NICOLE MITCHELL'S CASE WILL TAKE CENTER STAGE AS IT HAS ALL WEEK AT THE CAPITOL, INCLUDING PROTESTS.
HERE'S SOME CONTEXT.
>> ALL: SENATOR MITCHELL!
RESIGN NOW!
>> Mary: PROTESTORS MADE THEIR INTENT CLEAR.
CALLING FOR THE RESIGNATION OF THE STATE SENATOR CHARGED WITH FELONY BURGLARY.
>> NICOLE MITCHELL -- >> Mary: D.F.L.
SENATOR NICOLE MITCHELL REFUSED TO COMMENT AS SHE RETURNED TO THE CAPITOL, AS SHE WAS EMBRACED BY MANY MEMBERS INCLUDING THE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER.
>> WHERE ARE YOU AT WITH SENATOR MITCHELL'S PRESENCE?
I KNOW YOU EMBRACED HER.
>> SENATOR MITCHELL IS ENTITLED TO VOTE AND THE PEOPLE WHO SENT HER HERE FROM WOODBURY, SENATE DISTRICT 47 ARE ENTITLED TO HER REPRESENTATION.
SO I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT SHE'S HERE.
IDENTIFICATION IT'S IMPORTANT THAT SHE'S VOTING IN PERSON.
>> SENATE REPUBLICANS DO NOT BELIEVE THAT SHE SHOULD BE VOTING ON THE FLOOR.
THIS IS A CLOUD OVER THE TOP OF THE SENATE RIGHT NOW AND WHAT NEEDS TO BE FIGURED OUT THROUGH THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON ETHICS.
>> Mary: VARIETIES ROM MITCHELL'S SUBURBAN SENATE DISTRICT IN WOODBURY CAME TO THE DOLL OFFICIALLY CALL FOR HER ESIGNATION.
>> HOW CAN YOU MAKE LAWS WHEN YOU'RE REAKING LAWS?
AND GRANTED, SHE HASN'T BEEN CONVICTED YET.
BUT WALKS LIKE A DUCK, TALKS LIKE A DUCK, IT'S PROBABLY DUCK.
>> Mary: RESIDENTS SAID THE FACT THAT MITCHELL HAS BEEN RED FROM COMMITTEES AND HASN'T RESPONDED TO INQUIRIES FROM THESE CONSTITUENTS MEANS SHE'S NO LONGER ACTIVELY REPRESENTING THEM.
>> WE EXPECT OUR ELECTED EFFICIENTS TO LIVE UP TO A HIGH STANDARD.
IT SHOULDN'T BE LAWS FOR THEE AND NOT FOR ME.
>> Mary: ONLY ONE RESIDENT CAME FORWARD TO SAY THEY'VE VOTED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.
>> SHE'S WRITING LAWS FOR OUR STATE AND SHE'S NOT FOLLOWING THEM EITHER.
>> Mary: MANY OF THE REPUBLICAN BE ACTIVISTS HAVE A PETITION GOING FOR SENATOR MITCHELL'S RESIGNATION BUT NOT A RECALL ELECTION.
>> WE ARE NOT LOOKING AT A RECALL.
THAT'S GOING TO BE A BURDEN ON THE TAXPAYERS RIGHT NOW AND ALL OF HER CONSTITUENTS TO HAVE TO GO OUT THERE AND HIT THE GROUND WHICH WE ARE NOT AFRAID TO HAVE TO DO.
>> WE'VE GATHERED VOICES IN ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY, NEIGHBORS IN THE GROCERY STORE, PARENTS IN THE SCHOOL PICKUP LINES AND OVER 759 SUPPORTERS ON OUR PETITION.
AND THE MESSAGE IS LEAR.
SENATOR MITCHELL MUST STEP DOWN.
>> Mary: FOR DAYS ON THE SENATE FLOOR, REPUBLICANS IN THE MINORITY TRIED VARIOUS MOTIONS TO STOP MITCHELL FROM VOTING AND SERVING, ALL OF THEM FAILED WITH DEMOCRATS RESTORED MAJORITY.
>> WE ARE DEALING WITH AN UNPRECEDENTED CASE OF A SENATOR WHO WAS ARRESTED IN THE DARK OF NIGHT WHILE BREAKING INTO HER STEP-MOTHER'S HOME.
I DO MOVE THAT THE SECRETARY OF THE SENATE ON BEHALF OF THE MEMBERS OF HE BODY PREPARE A FORMAL REQUEST FOR THE RESIGNATION OF SENATOR NICOLE MITCHELL.
>> CHARGE FACING A MEMBER OF THIS BODY IS SO SERIOUS.
AND COMPLETELY UNPRECEDENTED.
I BELIEVE IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE TAKE THIS VERY SERIOUS STEP TODAY.
WE SHOULD NOT BE PASSING LEGISLATION IN THIS BODY BY ONE VOTE.
>> Mary: OUR INTERVIEW WITH THE MINORITY LEADER WAS USED AS EVIDENCE AGAINST THE MOTION.
>> IN RESPONSE TO A PRESS INQUIRY, CAN SHE VOTE, SENATOR JOHNSON SAID SHE CERTAINLY CAN ON THE FLOOR OR WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE CAUCUS LEADER.
OR SHE CAN BE HERE ON THE FLOOR.
>> WE HAVE A FUNDAMENTAL VALUE AT STAKE AND THAT IS THAT THE PEOPLE OF EVERY SINGLE SENATE DISTRICT ARE ENTITLED TO BE REPRESENTED.
>> HER ACTIONS HAVE BROUGHT THE SENATE INTO DISHONOR.
HER ACTIONS HAVE BROUGHT THE SENATE INTO DISREPUTE.
>> SENATOR MITCHELL HAS A RIGHT TO VOTE IN THIS BODY.
>> Mary: IN ANOTHER MEDIA INTERVIEW, SENATOR MITCHELL'S STEP-MOTHER SAID SHE'S AFRAID OF HER, HICH PROMPTED THE REPUBLICAN LEADER TO AGAIN EXPRESS HIS DISAPPOINTMENT.
>> THE SENATE D.F.L.
IS COVERING FOR THE ACTIONS OF SENATOR MITCHELL BECAUSE THEY'RE DESPERATE FOR THAT VOTE.
AND REGARDLESS OF THE VICTIMS, REGARDLESS OF HOW SCARED SHE IS, AND THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID IN THE INTERVIEW YESTERDAY, I AM SCARED OF SENATOR MITCHELL.
AND YET THEY'RE PROTECTING HER