Republican Challenging Ilhan Omar Faces Felony Theft Charge
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A Republican challenger to Democratic U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar is accused of shoplifting 279 items from a suburban Target earlier this year.
A criminal complaint says Danielle Stella stole items valued at more than $2,000 from Target in January. She allegedly told police she doesn't remember anything after arriving at Target, due to post-traumatic stress disorder.
The Star Tribune reports Stella was arrested again in April after allegedly stealing $40 in cat food from a Cub grocery store. A police report says she told an officer she forgot to pay.
In a text to The Guardian, Stella said she's innocent until proven guilty, and if she were guilty, she'd never run for public office.
Stella is a 31-year-old special education teacher and President Donald Trump supporter. She has gained attention for social media posts referencing QAnon, a far-right conspiracy theory.