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Category: News
September 24, 2025
Crime
News

WATCH: Vance Addresses Anti-ICE Shooting, Murders of Charlie Kirk and Iryna Zarutska.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Vice President J.D. Vance delivered a speech emphasizing law and order in Concord, North Carolina, on Wednesday, following a sniper attack on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Dallas, Texas. His remarks also addressed the murder of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska in the state, and the assassination of Turning Point USA (TPUSA) founder Charlie Kirk.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Vice President J.D. Vance, law enforcement officers, Charlie Kirk, and Iryna Zarutska.

📍WHEN & WHERE: September 24, 2025, in Concord, North Carolina.

💬KEY QUOTE: “So here’s my sacred obligation to you… Over the next couple of years, the Trump Administration is going to do everything that we can to dismantle the networks, to destroy the funding, and to make it harder for people to kill one another just because they disagree with what somebody says.” – J.D. Vance

🎯IMPACT: The speech highlighted ongoing issues of crime, the role of police, and the impact of soft-on-crime policies.

IN FULL

Vice President J.D. Vance addressed a crowd in Concord, North Carolina, on the theme of law and order on Wednesday, following a sniper attack on a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Dallas, Texas. Joined by officers from various police departments, he also addressed the murder of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zaratuska in North Carolina, and the assassination of Turning Point USA (TPUSA) founder Charlie Kirk in Utah.

During his speech, Vance called for a return to respecting law enforcement, stating, “We all remember the summer of 2020 when all of these violent protesters were encouraged to treat police as the enemy… Can we all just agree that our police officers are heroes?”

On the deadly sniper attack in Dallas, which he described as “politically motivated” based on the gunman scrawling ‘Anti-ICE’ on some of his rounds, Vance blasted Democrats such as California Governor Gavin Newsom for demonizing ICE agents as “part of an authoritarian government” and the corporate media for lying about their work.

“[W]hat they’re doing is encouraging crazy people to go and commit violence,” Vance said, adding: “You don’t have to agree with Donald Trump’s immigration policies. But if your political rhetoric encourages violence against our law enforcement, you can go straight to hell and you have no place in the political conversation.”

The Vice President also paid tribute to his friend Charlie Kirk, the Turning Point USA (TPUSA) founder who was assassinated during a public debate event at Utah Valley University recently, apparently by a far-left gunman, saying, “His loss was the nation’s loss.”

He also addressed the brutal murder of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska in Charlotte, not far from Concord, saying, “She came from a war-torn country. She sought shelter in the United States of America, and because of soft-on-crime polices, she was murdered here… isn’t that a disgrace?”

Vance is one of many America First leaders who believe the activities of nonprofits funding far-left activism are responsible for much violence against conservatives and law enforcement, and he pledged strong action against them, saying, “[H]ere’s my sacred obligation to you… Over the next couple of years, the Trump Administration is going to do everything that we can to dismantle the networks, to destroy the funding, and to make it harder for people to kill one another just because they disagree with what somebody says.”

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September 24, 2025
News
UK

London’s Mayor Khan Escalates Feud With ‘Racist, Sexist, Islamophobic’ Trump.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: London Mayor Sadiq Khan attacked President Donald J. Trump after the America First leader labeled him a “terrible mayor” during a United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) speech.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Sadiq Khan, Donald Trump, and various British and American officials.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Trump made his UN speech on Tuesday, and Khan’s response followed on Wednesday in London.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I think Donald Trump has shown he is racist, he is sexist, he is misogynistic, and he’s Islamophobic,” said Khan.

🎯IMPACT: The exchange highlights ongoing tensions between the U.S. President and the London mayor, with Khan accusing Trump of targeting him due to his religion.

IN FULL

London’s divisive mayor, Sadiq Khan, has again attacked President Donald J. Trump, branding him “racist, sexist, and Islamophobic.” This follows the President’s remarks during an address to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York this week, where he said, “I look at London, where you have a terrible mayor, terrible, terrible mayor, and it’s been changed, it’s been so changed. Now they want to go to Sharia law. But you are in a different country, you can’t do that.”

Khan, a Pakistani-heritage Muslim and member of Britain’s far-left governing Labour Party, responded, “I think Donald Trump has shown he is racist, he is sexist, he is misogynistic, and he’s Islamophobic.” He argued that Trump is “clearly uncomfortable with a liberal, multicultural, progressive city having a Muslim mayor.”

Trump has frequently criticized Khan’s leadership and called him “a nasty person.” Khan has also accused Trump of racism and Islamophobia before, complaining last year that Trump only criticizes him because of his ethnic and religious background. Their feud dates back to Trump’s first presidential run and term in office, with Khan attacking the America First leader’s so-called “Muslim ban” restricting travel to the U.S. from several Muslim-majority countries with a large jihadist presence, and Trump calling Khan a “stone-cold loser” in return.

While Khan emphasizes London’s diversity as a strength, a recent report suggests that nearly half of all public housing in the capital is occupied by foreign heads of household. A Bangladeshi official also boasted recently that much of the city, which is only around a third ‘White British,’ according to Britain’s 2021 Census, “feels like Bangladesh.”

Another report from earlier this year revealed that as many as one in every twelve Londoners is an illegal immigrant, meaning in real terms that as many as 586,000 illegals may be residing in the British capital.

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September 24, 2025
Media
Politics

Hillary Admits Bannon Outmaneuvered Democrats Online.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Hillary Clinton expressed concerns over Democrats falling behind conservatives in digital communication strategies, particularly in social media and podcasting.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Hillary Clinton, Stephen K. Bannon, and the Democratic and Republican Parties.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Clinton made these remarks during an appearance on MSNBC’s Morning Joe on Wednesday.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Right now, most people get their news from social media. So if they’re getting their news from, you know, 15-second videos, three-second takes, three-hour podcasts where people are just kind of unplugged and saying whatever, then Democrats had better compete in those arenas.” – Hillary Clinton

🎯IMPACT: Clinton’s remarks highlight the challenges Democrats face in reaching younger voters and competing in modern digital platforms against conservatives.

IN FULL

Hillary Clinton is warning that Democrats are lagging behind conservatives in the digital space, particularly in the realms of social media and podcasting, which she says are shaping political engagement among younger voters. Speaking on MSNBC’s Morning Joe, the former First Lady and Secretary of State said her party has “stopped being effective communicators in modern communications” and credited former Trump White House Chief Strategist and WarRoom host Stephen K. Bannon with recognizing early on how to engage young men online through “unplugged” podcasts.

“The Republican Party, I have to say, has done a much better job dominating social media, dominating the podcast ecosystem, getting messages out and aiming, particularly at young men,” Clinton remarked, adding that Democrats are still trying to “catch up.” She went on to note that Bannon, specifically, recognized that “young men who were into gaming” and “on the Internet a lot” could be “persuaded to be political supporters of the Republican Party, if the Republican Party actually engaged and talked to them in the right way.”

Clinton emphasized the importance of competing in online “arenas,” noting that most people now get their news from social media and short-form content. “Right now, most people get their news from social media. So if they’re getting their news from, you know, 15-second videos, three-second takes, three-hour podcasts where people are just kind of unplugged and saying whatever, then Democrats had better compete in those arenas,” she stated.

She also warned that the audience watching MSNBC live represents only a “small portion” of voters, underscoring the need for her party to expand its reach.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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September 24, 2025
Jack Montgomery
Breaking
Crime
Immigration

‘Anti-ICE’ Messages Found After Deadly Sniper Attack, Sources Name Suspect as Joshua Jahn.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: “Anti-ICE messages” were found on rounds near a suspected shooter in a sniper attack at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Dallas, Texas.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the suspected shooter, and four people who were shot, including the sniper, named by sources as 29-year-old Joshua Jahn. Two of his victims are confirmed to have died.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The attack targeted an ICE facility in Dallas, Texas, on Wednesday morning.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Early evidence that we’ve seen from rounds that were found near the suspected shooter contained messages that are anti-ICE in nature.” – FBI field office head Joseph Rothrock

🎯IMPACT: The shooting highlights ongoing violence against ICE, encouraged by the inflammatory rhetoric of Democrat politicians.

IN FULL

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has confirmed the discovery of “anti-ICE” messages on rounds found “near the suspected shooter” in a deadly sniper attack at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Dallas, Texas, on Wednesday morning. Four people were shot during the attack, including the sniper, who suffered a “self-inflicted” gunshot. Sources have named him as Joshua Jahn, 29.

FBI Director Kash Patel shared a photograph of the rounds on social media, stating, “While the investigation is ongoing, an initial review of the evidence shows an [ideological] motive behind this attack.” He added: “One of the unspent shell casings recovered was engraved with the phrase ‘ANTI ICE.’ … These despicable, politically motivated attacks against law enforcement are not a one-off.”

Speaking at a press conference in Dallas, FBI field office head Joseph Rothrock also confirmed that “Early evidence that we’ve seen from rounds that were found near the suspected shooter contained messages that are anti-ICE in nature,” stressing: “[T]his is just the most recent example of this type of attack.”

A radical leftist previously carried out a sniper attack on ICE officers in Alvarado, Texas, in July, with a responding local police officer being shot in the neck. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reports that attacks on ICE officers generally are up by over 1,000 percent.

Immediately following the Dallas shooting, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said, “While we don’t know motive yet, we know that our ICE law enforcement is facing unprecedented violence against them. It must stop.”

Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) has said the Dallas shooting “will NOT slow our arrest, detention, & deportation of illegal immigrants.”

This story is developing…

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September 24, 2025
Media

Trump Slams ABC for Lifting Kimmel’s Suspension: ‘A True Bunch of Losers.’

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J.Trump criticized ABC for reinstating Jimmy Kimmel after his suspension for making false statements about Turning Point USA (TPUSA) founder Charlie Kirk’s assassin, and suggested potential legal action against the network.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, Jimmy Kimmel, ABC, and Charlie Kirk.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Kimmel returned to TV on Tuesday, following a suspension over false statements about Charlie Kirk’s assassination.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Why would they want someone back who does so poorly, who’s not funny, and who puts the Network in jeopardy by playing 99% positive Democrat GARBAGE,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

🎯IMPACT: Sinclair and Nexstar, owning 80 ABC affiliates, have refused to air new episodes of Kimmel’s show, demanding Kimmel issue an apology and a financial donation to Kirk’s family.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump has criticized ABC for reinstating Jimmy Kimmel after his suspension, and floated the possibility of pursuing legal action against the network. Kimmel had been suspended for nearly a week following false statements he made about the assassination of Turning Point USA (TPUSA) founder Charlie Kirk.

In a Truth Social post, Trump expressed disbelief over ABC’s decision to bring Kimmel back on air. “I can’t believe ABC Fake News gave Jimmy Kimmel his job back. The White House was told by ABC that his Show was cancelled! Something happened between then and now because his audience is GONE, and his ‘talent’ was never there,” Trump wrote. “Why would they want someone back who does so poorly, who’s not funny, and who puts the Network in jeopardy by playing 99% positive Democrat GARBAGE.”

Trump also claimed Kimmel’s actions could be considered an “illegal campaign contribution” due to his partisan bias. “He is yet another arm of the DNC and, to the best of my knowledge, that would be a major Illegal Campaign Contribution. I think we’re going to test ABC out on this. Let’s see how we do. Last time I went after them, they gave me $16 Million Dollars. This one sounds even more lucrative. A true bunch of losers! Let Jimmy Kimmel rot in his bad Ratings,” Trump added.

Kimmel had previously claimed that Kirk’s assassin, Tyler Robinson, was part of the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement. However, prosecutors have confirmed that Robinson was motivated by leftist political ideology and hate for Kirk’s conservative views. In his return to television, Kimmel addressed the controversy in a tearful non-apology, claiming, “It was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man… nor was it my intention to blame any specific group for what was the actions… of an obviously deeply disturbed individual.”

Despite his reinstatement, major broadcast groups Sinclair and Nexstar, which own approximately 80 ABC affiliates, have refused to air new episodes of Kimmel’s show. Sinclair has also demanded that Kimmel apologize and make a financial donation to Charlie Kirk’s family.

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September 24, 2025
News

‘Iryna’s Law’ Passed to End Cashless Bail, Restart Executions After Ukrainian Refugee’s Brutal Murder.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The North Carolina legislature approved a criminal justice reform bill, “Iryna’s Law,” aimed at limiting bail and restarting executions in the state.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The bill was passed by the Republican-led legislature, but awaits action from Democrat Governor Josh Stein. It was named after Iryna Zarutska, a Ukrainian refugee fatally stabbed by Decarlos Brown Jr. while riding a train in Charlotte.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The legislation was approved on September 24, 2025, following the August 22 attack in Charlotte, North Carolina.

💬KEY QUOTE: “This heinous act was preventable,” said Rep. Tricia Cotham, a Republican from the Charlotte area, during House debate.

🎯IMPACT: The bill could restart executions in the state and end cashless bail for certain crimes.

IN FULL

North Carolina’s legislature has approved a criminal justice reform bill called “Iryna’s Law,” named in memory of Iryna Zarutska, a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee killed on August 22 while riding a Charlotte light rail train. The bill, which tightens bail rules and could restart executions in the Tar Heel State, awaits Democrat Governor Josh Stein’s decision to sign or veto it.

Decarlos Brown Jr., the suspect in Zarutska’s death, had over a dozen prior arrests but was released without bond on a misdemeanor charge earlier this year. Diagnosed with schizophrenia, according to his mother, Brown now faces first-degree murder and federal charges, both potentially carrying the death penalty. Surveillance video captured the black male attacking Zarutska with a knife shortly after she boarded the train and subsequently boasting, “I got that white girl.”

Republican Rep. Tricia Cotham, during the debate, criticized lax bail practices, saying, “This heinous act was preventable.” House Speaker Destin Hall echoed Cotham, saying, “When we have magistrates who are asleep at the wheel, like this one that obviously was, then we gotta make a change.” The bill aims to eliminate cashless bail for many offenses and limit judicial discretion in pretrial releases.

The legislation also seeks to resume executions in North Carolina, paused since 2006. Senate leader Phil Berger introduced an amendment to explore alternative execution methods, like firing squads or electrocution, if lethal injection is unavailable. Berger stated, “For nearly two decades, judicial and administrative roadblocks have stopped true justice for victims, and it’s time for that to end.”

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September 24, 2025
News
UK

Suspect Arrested After Multinational Airports Cyberattack.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A man in his forties was arrested in southern England for an alleged cyberattack that disrupted several European airports, including London Heathrow.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The suspect, Britain’s National Crime Agency (NCA), Collins Aerospace, and European airports, including Berlin, Brussels, and London Heathrow.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Starting late on the evening of September 19 through the weekend, with the arrest occurring in West Sussex, England, on September 23.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Although this arrest is a positive step, the investigation into this incident is in its early stages and remains ongoing.” – Paul Foster, head of the NCA’s national cybercrime unit.

🎯IMPACT: Disruptions to electronic systems caused delays, cancellations, and manual check-ins at affected airports, with some operations still not fully restored.

IN FULL

A man in his forties has been arrested in West Sussex, England, in connection with a cyberattack that disrupted operations at several major European airports, including London Heathrow. The incident, which began late Friday, caused widespread delays and forced airport staff in multiple cities to switch to manual check-in systems and issue handwritten boarding passes. Britain’s National Crime Agency (NCA) confirmed the arrest, adding that the suspect has been released on conditional bail while investigations continue.

Paul Foster, head of the NCA’s national cybercrime unit, said, “Although this arrest is a positive step, the investigation into this incident is in its early stages and remains ongoing. Cybercrime is a persistent global threat that continues to cause significant disruption to the UK.”

Airports in the German capital of Berlin, the Belgian capital of Brussels, and London were among those impacted, with Berlin Airport reporting ongoing delays. “Check-in and boarding are still largely manual,” the airport said, warning that it may take several days before operations fully return to normal.

The disruption has been traced to systems managed by Collins Aerospace, a U.S.-based aviation technology provider. The company confirmed a “cyber-related disruption” affecting select European airports and said it is working with additional specialists to restore full functionality. However, no estimated timeline for complete service restoration has been provided.

Cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure have become increasingly common, with many governments blaming foreign state actors. Earlier this year, France accused Russian military intelligence of orchestrating a series of cyber operations against French institutions, including government bodies and private firms. In a separate case, Chinese hackers reportedly exploited a vulnerability in Microsoft software to breach systems at a U.S. nuclear agency.

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September 24, 2025
Immigration
News

Three Shot at ICE Facility in ‘Sniper’ Attack.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: At least three people were injured in a shooting at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Dallas, Texas.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: ICE officers, detainees, and the gunman, who reportedly shot himself.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Wednesday, at an ICE facility in Dallas, Texas.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The shooter is ‘down’ due to a self-inflicted wound,” authorities confirmed.

🎯IMPACT: The incident has disrupted operations at the ICE facility and left multiple people injured.

IN FULL

At least three people have been injured during a shooting at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Dallas, Texas, on Wednesday. The shooting reportedly took place as ICE officers were in the process of transferring detainees into the facility. Authorities have stated that the shooter sustained a self-inflicted wound and is “down.”

The identity and condition of the shooting victims had not been definitively confirmed as of the time of publication, although at least one report suggests they were migrants, and one has died. “While we don’t know motive yet, we know that our ICE law enforcement is facing unprecedented violence against them. It must stop,” commented Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

In July, radical leftist Benjamin Song allegedly executed a sniper attack on ICE officers in Alvarado, Texas, which resulted in a responding local police officer being shot in the neck. The Trump administration has blamed inflammatory Democrat rhetoric for encouraging such attacks, with Minnesota governor and failed 2024 vice presidential candidate Tim Walz, for instance, smearing ICE as “Donald Trump’s modern-day Gestapo” in May.

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September 24, 2025
Crime
Religion

Judge Lets Muslim Who Slashed Man for ‘Blasphemy’ Walk Free.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A man who attacked a protester for burning the Koran outside the Turkish consulate in London received a suspended sentence instead of prison.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Moussa Kadri, the defendant; Hamit Coskun, the protester and victim; Judge Adam Hiddleston; prosecutors; defense lawyer Greg Unwin; the Turkish consulate in London.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Attack in Rutland Gardens, Knightsbridge, West London; sentencing at Southwark Crown Court.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Use of blades is a curse on our community.” – Judge Adam Hiddleston

🎯IMPACT: Kadri’s suspended sentence further increases the sense of a two-tier justice in the United Kingdom, contrasting sharply with the draconian prison terms handed down to social media users and non-violent protesters who have expressed negative sentiments about immigration and Islam in recent months.

IN FULL

A Muslim man who attacked a protester for burning the Koran outside the Turkish consulate in London, England, has been spared prison, prompting renewed debate over the consistency of policing and sentencing in Britain. Moussa Kadri, who slashed protester Hamit Coskun with a knife after he burned the Islamic holy book, received a 20-week prison sentence suspended for 18 months at Southwark Crown Court. He must also complete 150 hours of unpaid work and 10 days of rehabilitation.

The court heard that Coskun, during a protest in Knightsbridge, West London, shouted, “F**k Islam,” “Islam is religion of terrorism,” and “Koran is burning,” while holding a flaming Koran. Kadri angrily confronted him, calling him a “f**king idiot” and threatening, “I’m going to kill you” before slashing him with a knife. As Coskun stumbled to the ground, Kadri spat on and kicked him. He later told police: “Burning the Koran? It’s my religion, you don’t burn the Koran. I protect my religion.”

Judge Adam Hiddleston called Kadri’s actions “disgraceful” and added, “Use of blades is a curse on our community,” but stressed the emotional nature of his reaction by way of justification for it. Kadri’s defense lawyer, Greg Unwin, had said the act was a spontaneous reaction to what Kadri saw as a deeply offensive attack on his faith.

Notably, the victim was also prosecuted and convicted of “religiously aggravated disorderly conduct,” with prosecutors initially citing harassment of the “religious institution of Islam”—effectively a blasphemy charge.

The sentence comes at a time when other cases involving hostility toward Islam have resulted in much harsher outcomes. In a recent case, Nathan Poole was jailed for 30 months after shouting “Who the f**k is Allah?” during an anti-immigration protest outside a mosque in Stoke-on-Trent. Judge Richard McConaghy said the chants were clearly motivated by hostility towards Islam, and that the mosque setting amplified the offense.

These contrasting outcomes have fueled accusations of two-tier policing and sentencing in the United Kingdom. Critics point to a 2024 incident where police were filmed asking a group of armed Muslim men to leave their weapons at a mosque to avoid arrest, while anti-immigration protesters were being aggressively confronted and arrested by riot squads.

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September 23, 2025
Crime
Politics

Democrat Lawmaker Sentenced for Burglary.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Former Minnesota Democrat state senator Nicole Mitchell was sentenced to six months in jail for breaking into her estranged stepmother’s home.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Nicole Mitchell, her stepmother Carol Mitchell, Becker County Attorney Brian McDonald, and Judge Michael Fritz.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The sentencing occurred on September 23, 2025, in Becker County, Minnesota; the break-in happened in April 2024 in Detroit Lakes.

💬KEY QUOTE: “I don’t think there is anything I can say or do that will ever be big enough to repair the harm that I’ve done.” – Nicole Mitchell.

🎯IMPACT: Mitchell’s conviction leaves her suburban district without representation until a special election in November, potentially affecting the narrow Democrat majority in the state Senate.

IN FULL

Nicole Mitchell, a former Minnesota Democrat state senator and ally of Governor Tim Walz (D), was sentenced to six months in jail for breaking into her estranged stepmother’s home in Detroit Lakes. The incident occurred in April 2024, and Mitchell was convicted of first-degree burglary and possession of burglary tools. She will serve her sentence on work release in Ramsey County, where she lives, beginning October 8.

Mitchell, 51, admitted to the court, “I don’t think there is anything I can say or do that will ever be big enough to repair the harm that I’ve done.” The judge allowed her to serve the 180-day sentence on work release and stayed a 21-month prison term contingent on her compliance with probation. Under Minnesota law, she could be released in four months.

Prosecutor Brian McDonald criticized the decision to let Mitchell serve her sentence outside Becker County, calling it “preferential treatment.” He also noted her refusal to resign from the Senate until a week after her conviction. Mitchell represented a suburban district in the closely divided Senate, often casting decisive votes.

Body camera footage played during the trial showed Mitchell in the basement of her stepmother’s home dressed in black with a flashlight covered by a sock. She reportedly told police, “Clearly, I’m not good at this,” and admitted, “I know I did something bad.”

Carol Mitchell, the victim, stated in court, “Fear has moved in with me to stay. How could I ever trust Nicole again?” Gov. Walz has scheduled a special election for November 4 to fill Mitchell’s seat, as well as the seat of a Republican senator who passed away.

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