Ilhan Omar’s challenger accused of stealing 279 items from Target

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 during one visit on January 8. She allegedly told police she doesn’t remember anything after arriving at Target, due to post-traumatic stress disorder.
The Star Tribune reported that 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, a British newspaper, Stella said she’s innocent until proven guilty, and if she were guilty, she would never run for public office.
Stella is a 31-year-old special education teacher and supporter of President Donald Trump. She has gained attention for social media posts referencing QAnon, a far-right conspiracy theory. Last week InfoWars broadcast an interview in which she described Minneapolis as the “crime capital” of America.
Meanwhile, a Minneapolis police officer says he plans to challenge Omar.
Chris Kelley says he will officially launch his campaign for the Independence Party endorsement in the 5th Congressional District on Monday.
Kelley told KSTP-TV he was first motivated to run for Omar’s seat after comments she made in April at a meeting of the Council on American-Islamic Relations when some thought she diminished the impact of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Kelley, an Army veteran, sought Republican endorsement for a state Senate seat in 2016.

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