>> Eric: PLENTY OF BIG TOPICS TONIGHT WITH OUR POLITICAL PANEL.

INCLUDING THE FRIDAY AFTERNOON GUILTY VERDICTS IN SENATOR MITCHELL'S BURGLARY TRIAL.

GUILTY OF FIRST DEGREE BURGLARY AND BURGLARY TOOLS.

DEMOCRATS UP FIRST TONIGHT.

JEFF HAYDEN IS A FORMER STATE SENATOR NOW LOBBYIST.

FORMER STATE SENATOR IS ALSO ONE OF THE MANY LABELS YOU CAN ATTACH TO EMBER REICHGOTT JUNGE.

REPUBLICANS ON THE COUCH TONIGHT.

AMY KOCH IS A FORMER SENATE MINORITY LEADER TURNED LOBBYIST.

AND PREYA SAMSUNDAR IS A GOP STRATEGIST, FORMER COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR FOR THE RNC AND THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN.

WELL, SENATOR MITCHELL SEEMS TO HAVE LANDED ON SOMETHING HAS UNITED THE SENATE: RESIGN.

>> YES, IT'S TIME FOR HER TO GO.

WE'VE BEEN ARGUING ABOUT DUE PROCESS AND SHE GOT IT.

AND SHE HAD A JURY OF HER PEERS AND THEY FOUND HER GUILTY AND SENATOR MITCHELL SHOULD RESIGN.

>> WELL, SHE SHOULD HAVE RESIGNED A YEAR AND A HALF AGO AND THE DEMOCRATS SHOULD HAVE EXPELLED HER OR AID THEY WERE GOING TO EXPEL HER IF SHE DIDN'T.

SENATOR JUSTIN EICHORN IN MARCH WAS NOT -- WAS FOUND TO HAVE TRAFFICKED, SEX TRAFFICKED AN UNDERAGED WOMAN, GIRL AND THE REPUBLICANS CAME OUT AND SAID YOU RESIGN TODAY OR WE WILL EXPEL YOU.

THERE ARE JUST SOME ACTIONS ALL OF THIS INFORMATION THAT CAME OUT THIS WEEK N THE TRIAL NONE OF IT WAS A SURPRISE.

WE HEARD IT ALL, WE HEARD THE 911 CALL, WE HAD THE POLICE REPORT WE KNEW EVERYTHING THAT WE KNEW ALREADY AND YET FOR A YEAR AND A HALF SHE'S BEEN IN THE SENATE BEING THE DECIDING VOTE.

AND THAT'S WHAT'S KIND OF ICKY ABOUT THIS IT FEELS VERY POLITICAL THAT SHE WAS KEPT AND JUSTIN EICHORN WAS GONE.

NOW, HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN GONE, GOOD, GET OUT.

THERE ARE THINGS THAT YOU SHOULD NOT REPRESENT YOUR DISTRICT, YOU SHOULD LEAVE.

SHE SHOULD HAVE LEFT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO.

>> Cathy: WELL, I THINK THE ARGUMENT WAS THERE'S A LEGAL PROCESS TO GO THROUGH.

>> RIGHT, AS A FORMER CHAIR OF THE SENATE ETHICS COMMITTEE AND HAVING LED EIGHT INVESTIGATIONS WHERE WE ALWAYS CAME TOGETHER AS A FOURSOME, LET ME JUST SAY THERE'S A PROCESS THAT WORKS REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE DIVISION OF POLITICS IS IN THE MINNESOTA SENATE.

WHETHER IT'S ONE VOTE OR TEN.

AND THAT PROCESS HAS ALWAYS BEEN THAT WHEN THERE IS DUE PROCESS NECESSARY IN A CRIMINAL TRIAL WE ALLOW THAT TO OCCUR.

THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED.

SHE HAS BEEN CONVICTED BY HER PEERS.

SHE HAS HAD THE CHANCE TO TELL HER STORY, THAT WAS IMPORTANT AND NOW SHE SHOULD RESIGN.

>> THERE'S NO QUESTION.

>> EMBER, THERE'S A LEGAL PROCESS THEN THERE'S JUST WHAT'S RIGHT.

AND WHAT'S RIGHT IS, AND BY THE WAY THERE'S NO WAY TO EXPEL HER, IF SHE DECIDES NOT TO GO THEY DO NOT MEET UNTIL NEXT FEBRUARY.

SHE COULD ACTUALLY CONTINUE TO GET PAYCHECK, BE PAID STATE SENATOR, OST TAXPAYERS MONEY AS SHE ALREADY HAS FOR A YEAR AND A HALF.

>> YOU COULD CALL SPECIAL SESSION.

>> O THAT'S GOING TO OST THE TAXPAYERS MONEY.

>> YEAH, BUT YOU SAID THERE'S NO OTHER WAY, THERE IS A WAY.

>> SESSION AND A HALF TO EXPEL HER.

IF WE CALL A SPECIAL SESSION AND COST TAXPAYERS MORE MONEY TO EXPEL HER, SHAME.

>> ONLY IF THERE WAS A SPECIAL SESSION CALLED ANYWAYS AFTER THE ILL IN WASHINGTON, SO THEY CAN CALL A SPECIAL SESSION.

>> I THINK THE REALITY IS AT THE END OF THE DAY IS THAT THIS WAS A VERY CARTOONISH CRIME COMMITTED BY SENATOR MITCHELL.

SHE WAS COVERED IN ALL BLACK, WENT TO HER STEP MOTHER'S HOUSE THREE AND A HALF HOURS AWAY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, CRAWLED IN THROUGH HER BASEMENT WINDOW AND WAS CAUGHT BY THE POLICE.

IF THIS WAS ANYBODY ELSE WE WOULD BE LIKE THROWING UP THEY NEED TO RESIGN, THEY NEED TO BE FIRED, THEY NEED TO BE THIS OR THAT.

BUT THE REALITY IS IS THAT SHE WAS A DECIDING VOTE IN A YEAR WHERE DEMOCRATS ABSOLUTELY NEEDED HER TO GET THEIR AGENDA THROUGH.

WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT LIKE THIS WAS A VERY POLITICAL MOVE AND WE AS POLITICAL FOLKS WHETHER WE'RE ON THE RIGHT OR THE LEFT, WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN IT COMES TO OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS THERE IS A HIGHER STANDARD THAT WE HOLD THEM TO AND WE NEED TO CALL THEM TO, AND O EVEN IF THERE IS DUE PROCESS LIKE WE DID WITH JUSTIN EICHORN, SOMETIMES WE JUST HAVE TO SAY THE FACT THAT YOU FOUND YOURSELF AS A GROWN WOMAN, A GROWN ADULT IN THIS SITUATION, YOU GOTTA GO.

>> PREYA, MANY MANY DEMOCRATS CALLED UPON HER TO RESIGN EARLY ON.

THEY DID.

SHE DID NOT CHOOSE TO.

>> INCLUDING THE GOVERNOR.

>> INCLUDING THE GOVERNOR.

>> AND THAT'S WHEN THEY SHOULD HAVE FOLLOWED THE STEP.

>> BUT SHE DID NOT DO THAT SO THERE'S SOME RESPONSIBILITIES HERE WITHIN THE SENATOR HERSELF.

SHE MADE THAT DECISION BUT WE COULDN'T FORCE IT WITHOUT OING THROUGH THE PROCESS >> YOU COULD FORCE IT.

YOU HAD MULTIPLE PPORTUNITIES TO EXPEL HER OFF THE SENATE FLOOR.

>> Cathy: IF SHE DECIDES -- WELL, SHE'S GOING TO LEAVE SOMEHOW, RIGHT?

RESIGN OR YOU ARE EXPELLED.

SO THAT LEAVES THEN HE SENATE TIED.

SO NOW WHAT?

>> SO IT WILL BE OUR FIFTH SPECIAL ELECTION THIS YEAR.

AND SO NOW WE'LL HAVE TO GO AND THERE'S ONE ALREADY ON THEIR WAY UNFORTUNATELY FOR SPEAKER EMERITA HORTMAN, ONE FOR SENATOR DZIEDZIC, ONE FOR HE CURTIS JOHNSON MAPLEWOOD SEAT, JUSTIN EICHORN, AND NOW THERE WILL BE ANOTHER ONE IN WOODBURY THAT I THINK PEOPLE HAVE BEEN PREPARING FOR, SO I IMAGINE THAT HE GOVERNOR WILL WANT TO GET THAT -- WELL, GO THROUGH THE PROCESS IF SHE DOES ACTUALLY RESIGN OR THEY HAVE TO CALL A SPECIAL SESSION TO EXPEL REMEMBER, HOWEVER IT WORKS, THEN THERE WILL BE ANOTHER SPECIAL ELECTION.

>> Eric: DR. SCOTT JENSEN 2.0 RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

>> RIGHT.

RIGHT NOW WE HAVE KENDALL KWAULZ RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR AS WELL AS SCOTT JENSEN, A REDO REALLY OF 2020 -- OR 2022, SORRY.

2022.

YOU KNOW, I'D LIKE TO SEE WHO ELSE IS GETTING IN THE RACE.

KIND OF WAITING, I FEEL LIKE I ALWAYS THINK OMETIMES IT TAKES YOU A COUPLE RUNS BUT IT WASN'T A GREAT RACE IN 2022 THAT DR. JENSEN RAN AND I DON'T, I WORRY THAT HE CAN NOT BE THE PERSON TO BEAT TIM WALZ.

>> EXACTLY.

AND I THINK TOO LIKE WE ALL HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT IN POLITICS, EVERYTHING WE DO IN THE PAST STILL LIVES ON, AND ALL OF THAT FROM THAT CAMPAIGN IN 2022 IS GOING TO FOLLOW HIM INTO 2026, THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF COMPARISONS ABOUT, WELL, DID YOU BELIEVE THAT THEN OR DO YOU BELIEVE THAT NOW.

AND THAT'S REALLY GOING TO FOLLOW HIM AND DOG HIM THROUGHOUT THIS CAMPAIGN.

>> Eric: I WANT TO ASK ABOUT THE FRAUD DE JURE, WHICH NOW IS A HOUSING PROGRAM STABILIZATION PROGRAM IN DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, AUTISM APPARENTLY -- -- ACCUMULATING TO THE DEMOCRATS' DETRIMENT HERE?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL TO THIS AND THEN I'LL GET TO THAT.

AND THAT IS THAT RIGHT NOW I THINK THE BIGGEST THING GOING IN THE MINNESOTA DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR'S FAVOR, WHOEVER IT IS, IS THAT THERE HAS TO BE A STOP-GAP BETWEEN WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE EXECUTIVE CONTROL AND RETRIBUTION THAT'S GOING ON IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

SO WE ARE THE STOPGAP, SO THAT'S WHY I THINK NO MATTER WHAT THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE IS, THAT E'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE A DEMOCRATIC PERSON ELECTED.

NOW, TO YOUR POINT, THE FRAUD ISSUE DOES NOT HELP THE CURRENT GOVERNOR.

THAT IS TRUE.

BUT HERE'S THE ISSUE N THE FRAUD SIDE OF THAT.

WE SHOULD HAVE PASSED THE INSPECTOR GENERAL LEGISLATION, AND I DON'T KNOW WHY THAT STOPPED.

SURE IT COSTS MONEY BUT THAT N MY VIEW WAS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT LOST OPPORTUNITIES IN THIS SESSION.

>> Eric: WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK?

>> YEAH, WELL, THE PROBLEM IS THIS SESSION IS 2025, AND THIS FRAUD HAS BEEN GOING ON WE NOW KNOW THIS IS FIVE YEARS THAT WE'VE BEEN JUST HEARING CONSTANT, HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS, CLOSE TO A COUPLE BILLION DOLLARS N FRAUD IN THIS STATE THAT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR FIVE OR SIX YEARS.

I MEAN, THIS S TRULY HORRENDOUS ON SO MANY LEVELS, IT'S THE COST TO THE TAXPAYERS, IT'S THE DAMAGE IT DOES O THESE PROGRAMS, IT'S THE LOSS, IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S MONEY THAT SHOULD BE USED TO HOUSE PEOPLE THAT'S BEING DEFRAUDED AND USED IN A CRIMINAL, YOU KNOW, BY CRIMINALS.

>> Eric: HOW DOES IT PLAY AS A POLITICAL ISSUE?

>> IT'S VERY GOOD FOR REPUBLICANS, THERE'S NO WAY TO DICE IT.

>> YEAH, I MEAN, AMY AND I ARE LOCKED IN ON THIS IN THE SAME WAY.

AND IN LARGE PART BECAUSE WE REPRESENT A LOT OF NON-PROFITS THAT ARE DOING THE RIGHT THING AND SERVING REALLY GOOD PEOPLE THAT ARE GETTING CAUGHT, -- VERY VULNERABLE PEOPLE GETTING CAUGHT IN THIS PROCESS.

THIS IS NOT ONLY A PROBLEM IN TERMS OF THE PEOPLE WHO SHOULD BE SERVED, THIS IS A PROBLEM FOR THE STATE BUDGET, AND THIS IS A POLITICAL PROBLEM FOR THE DEMOCRATS.

SO I'LL DO A PAT GAROFALO AND LOOK INTO THE CAMERA AND SAY, DEMOCRATS, GET THIS TOGETHER.

THIS IS A PROBLEM FOR THE COMMUNITY AND IT IS A POLITICAL PROBLEM.

>> Cathy: YOU MENTIONED ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL AND I'M WONDERING, PREYA, THE RESCISSION, IS THIS THE RIGHT WAY TO DEAL WITH BUDGET CUTS?

>> I THINK THE REALITY IS NO MATTER WHICH WAY YOU SLICE ARE IT OR DICE IT, SORRY FOR THE PUN THERE, THE REALITY IS IS THAT WE ARE $35 TRILLION IN DEBT, OUR DEBT IS CONTINUING TO GROW AND BOTH PARTIES FOR YEARS HAVE SAID WE'RE GOING TO CUT THE BUDGET, WE ARE GOING TO FIND WAYS TO SAVE MONEY FOR TAXPAYERS.

THE REALITY IS IS THIS HAS KIND OF COME AT A CRUX, T A TIME WHERE COSTS ARE UNIMAGINABLY HIGH FOR A LOT OF AMERICANS ON DIFFERENT LEVELS, WHETHER IT'S HOUSING, GROCERIES, HEALTH CARE, WHATEVER IT IS.

DONALD TRUMP CAMPAIGNED ON A PROMISE TO LOOK AT CUTTING WASTE, FRAUD AND ABUSE AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

HE'S OING IT.

IS THIS PROBABLY THE WAY TO GO ABOUT IT?

HE'S PROBABLY JUST LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO CUT WHAT ISN'T ABSOLUTELY NEEDED.

AND DOESN'T HURT SOME FOLKS -- DOES IT HURT SOME FOLKS, ABSOLUTELY.

DO WE NEED TO BE FUNDING SESAME STREET IN IRAQ?

ABSOLUTELY NOT.

>> SENATOR.

>> LET ME JUST SAY THIS.

NUMBER ONE, THE PRESIDENT IS GROWING THE DEFICIT, RIGHT?

SO THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT HE'S CUTTING THE DEFICIT, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT.

SECONDLY, WE GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH MINNESOTANS AND THEY TALK TO, AND THEY STOP ME ALL THE TIME ND THIS IS THE KIND OF THING THAT WE MAY CUT, SO I THINK THAT IT IS IRONIC THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, WE JUST TALKED ABOUT CUTTING NPR AND BS AND THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY IS HAVING A GOOD CONVERSATION, WELL BALANCED CONVERSATION ABOUT MINNESOTA POLITICS.

>> THE RESCISSION BILL HAS NOT HAPPENED FOR 33 YEARS IN CONGRESS.

OKAY, THEY'RE TAKING AWAY MONEY.

THE PROBLEM WITH THIS IS ON THREE LEVELS.

FIRST OF ALL, NOT JUST THE RURAL COMMUNITIES THAT WON'T GET THEIR -- >> Eric: 20 SECONDS.

>> -- DISASTER RELIEF.

BUT ALSO THEY'RE TAKING CONGRESS POWER AWAY, THE SPENDING POWER, AND ONCE AGAIN, THEY'RE GIVING THE EXECUTIVE ALL OF THIS POWER.

AND I THINK THAT IS THE WORST PART OF IT.

AND CONTROL OF THE MEDIA, HE'S ATTACKING ALL THREE NETWORKS.

>> Cathy: A LOT