Edina candidate Marisa Simonetti released a tarantula during a dispute with a tenant, faces misdemeanor assault charge. By Christopher Magan.
Simonetti acknowledged her alias, Jennie Kennedy, for the first time. She has social media accounts and a website advertising escort services under that name, where she appears in lingerie with her face blurred. When asked directly about her escort work, which she briefly discussed on the podcast, Simonetti said it happened in the past. She would not rule out continuing as an OnlyFans creator if she was elected to the Hennepin County Board.
Simonetti received international attention after being arrested June 21 following a conflict with a tenant when she released a tarantula down the stairs of her Edina home. Simonetti pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor fifth-degree assault charge and is due back in court Oct.
She also alleged Vasquez threatened to expose her work on OnlyFans and tried to extort money from her. She said Vasquez just wanted a safe and quiet place to study for the bar exam. Simonetti will face Heather Edelson Nov. They were the top candidates in an April special primary for the seat, and Edelson won the May 14 special election. The race is nonpartisan, but Edelson is a DFLer who served three terms as a state representative from Edina. Edelson said she was focused on working for district residents and had no further comment about her opponent.
Simonetti campaigned as a family-values conservative focused on lowering taxes and crime, but has backed away from the GOP label after local Republicans pulled their support and criticized her behavior. Christopher Magan covers Hennepin County. The returns were filed on behalf of themselves and others, according to federal prosecutors.
