this post was submitted on 11 Oct 2026
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Independent Minnesota US Senate candidate Marisa Simonetti, 32, has been sentenced to three months in the Hennepin County workhouse after throwing a live tarantula onto the staircase leading to her tenant's living space in Edina. She was convicted of gross misdemeanour harassment and misdemeanour domestic assault and will serve her 90-day sentence on school and work release. The court also ordered her to serve two years of probation and submit a written apology to the victim.

Simonetti's sentence comes as she campaigns for a seat in the US Senate, hoping to replace Tina Smith in the November 2026 Minnesota election. Her candidacy has drawn further attention after a video she posted of herself confronting a Girl Scout and the child's mother over selling cookies without a permit went viral, putting her own conduct under public scrutiny.

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[–] darthelmet@lemmy.world 7 points 8 hours ago

You know, I think headlines like these might be getting to the point where they don't even qualify as onion-like. The Onion headlines are at least clever jokes that make sense when you think about them. This is more like someone playing "yes and" with a bunch of crazy people.

[–] SplitTheUSInFour@lemmy.world 3 points 8 hours ago

Change society. We need to stop letting these people continue their paths of destruction.

Things like this should prevent you from ever being able to hold a job again. We just need stronger laws against this kind. A new country would fix this shit so fast. I'd rather be in a place where we celebrate each other and kick out those who choose to oppress others.

In my country, this would be cause for deportation. Send the monsters to an island. Idc.

It may sound harsh, but our only currency is time and these people continue to rob us of our time. We all have to work to support a system that allows people like this to carry on with a slap on the wrist.

[–] FiskFisk33@startrek.website 19 points 17 hours ago (2 children)

the Hennepin County workhouse

the what now?

[–] HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world 13 points 12 hours ago (1 children)

some places never really had that veneer that slavery ended.

[–] prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 9 hours ago

It's Minnesota, so maybe they're just choosing to be honest about it?

[–] Treczoks@lemmy.world 13 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

For a politician it's probably the first contact with real work.

[–] PalmTreeIsBestTree@lemmy.world 4 points 10 hours ago* (last edited 10 hours ago)

Facts buncha actual welfare queens

[–] bcgm3@lemmy.world 32 points 20 hours ago (2 children)

She was convicted of gross misdemeanour harassment and misdemeanour domestic assault

I guess tarantulas aren't cute enough to warrant an animal cruelty charge :(

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[–] pomegranatefern@sh.itjust.works 33 points 22 hours ago (1 children)

Here is another article on this that I found a little bit clearer in terms of what happened. So basically her tenant asked her to fulfill a basic responsibility that landlords are supposed to handle and she had an absolute fucking meltdown? Honestly the tarantula is the tamest part of it. I hope the tarantula is okay and also that the tenant is okay, not because the tarantula was a real danger but because of every other fucking thing this woman did. Good lord.

[–] pipes@sh.itjust.works 20 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

This is so much worse than "neighbor".

Also, how fun:

Simonetti "intercepted" groceries ordered by the individual and refused to return them until officers told her to do so

[–] LifeInMultipleChoice@lemmy.world 3 points 11 hours ago

Attempted murder.. yikes

[–] baeb66@lemmy.today 45 points 1 day ago (2 children)

There's a whole video of this floating around on the internet. I usually don't go in for videos that look like the old Cops show, but that one is worth a watch.

The woman she was harassing was renting out the basement of the house through Airbnb because she was fleeing domestic violence.

Simonetti didn't even own the property. She was illegally subletting the basement. The cops showed up and Simonetti was so crazy that the cops weren't having it.

[–] Tollana1234567@lemmy.today 15 points 16 hours ago

a karen in its feral state.

[–] LostListener@piefed.social 26 points 21 hours ago (2 children)

I’ve seen this too, these people are terrifying. Here’s the link to the full body cam. Get ready for a whole helping of crazy eyes

https://youtu.be/gRyjqsHNQOU

[–] Grannymcgrannypants@lemmy.nz 5 points 12 hours ago

That was fucking insane, like, Jesus christ, don't let this bitch control ANYTHING!

[–] GreyEyedGhost@piefed.ca 8 points 18 hours ago

I skipped on the other videos, but got sucked in by the crazy eyes comment. What a ride!

[–] theuniqueone@lemmy.dbzer0.com 105 points 1 day ago (1 children)
[–] Malica@lemmy.zip 40 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (6 children)

I know they're not fucking toys. They're lovely animals too.

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[–] Diplomjodler3@lemmy.world 77 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I wonder why she's running as an independent. Couldn't be more qualified to be a Republican.

[–] ChicoSuave@lemmy.world 53 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Although she initially launched her political career as a Republican and lost two Hennepin County Board races in 2024, the local 3rd Congressional District GOP committee withdrew its endorsement following her 2024 arrest, stating she 'does not reflect our values'.

The GOP kicked her out for bad behavior. She's too much for the addicts and pedophile warmongers.

[–] Cocodapuf@lemmy.world 6 points 20 hours ago

Sounds like a charmer....

[–] Rai@lemmy.dbzer0.com 68 points 1 day ago

The bodycam footage of the incident is wild. She’s a complete and total piece of shit.

[–] ikidd@lemmy.dbzer0.com 18 points 1 day ago (2 children)

She's perfect for US Senate except for being about 50 years too young.

[–] phutatorius@lemmy.zip 3 points 12 hours ago

And yet 17 years too old for Trump to molest.

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Wait...does the Girl Scout organization not secure legal clearance at all for its scouts to sell? Or is she just a complete moron?

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