Senate Republicans file new ethics complaint, allege conflict of interest after Senator Mitchell blocked expulsion vote

Senate Republican leaders filed an amended ethics complaint and a separate conflict-of-interest complaint on behalf of their caucus against Senator Nicole Mitchell, saying she cast a deciding procedural vote on Jan. 27 that blocked an expulsion vote and pointing to a newly filed second felony charge in the criminal case.

Senate Republican Leader Mark Johnson said at a news conference that the caucus is adding a conflict-of-interest charge focused on a procedural vote Mitchell cast that, Republicans contend, prevented the Senate from voting on her expulsion. "How can a member cast a vote that determines their long term ability to be in the Senate?" Johnson asked. "We believe this is a clear violation of the conflict of interest rules that the Senate holds to."

The updated ethics filing also amends an earlier complaint filed after Mitchell's April 2024 arrest, adding details from a second charging document that Republicans say allege additional conduct. "As it stands today, the facts are stunning," Senator Lucero said, summarizing the new charging document and recounting…