Hennepin County Board candidate Simonetti defiant in court amid assault charge

Marisa Simonetti, a candidate for the Hennepin County District 6 commissioner seat, appeared at the Ridgedale Regional Center in Minnetonka on Thursday morning for an arraignment on a fifth-degree assault charge connected to an unusual altercation involving a tarantula.

The charge stems from a June incident at Simonetti’s Edina rental home, in which the 31-year-old allegedly threw a tarantula and other objects down a staircase at her Airbnb guest, Jacklyn Vasquez, while making loud noises and blaring Christian music. The misdemeanor charge accuses Simonetti of causing fear of harm without physical contact.

Outside the third-floor courtroom, Simonetti, accompanied by her young son and wearing a campaign T-shirt, stood with her attorney, John T. Daly of Daly Defense in Lakeville. Daly, whom she hired after meeting him during a July court appearance, handled the routine proceedings, and the case was scheduled for a Jan. 9 pretrial hearing.

“When you set a pretrial date, you don’t enter a formal plea, but you’re pleading not guilty by setting a pre-trial date and continuing on without resolving it,” Daly explained.

Advertisement

Simonetti reiterated her innocence. “I didn’t do anything wrong, and she was in my house without a reason, so I will fight the thing to the death,” she said. “She’s dealing with Marisa Simonetti. I’m here with my son. This is who I’m here to protect. I will fight it to the death. Yeah, I’m not going to get stuck with something I didn’t do.”

Simonetti’s campaign has drawn increased attention due to her legal troubles, including past speeding tickets, dropped credit card theft allegations by a former fiancé, the loss of her real estate license in 2016 for fraudulent practices, and a recent acknowledgment of her OnlyFans account, where she operates under the handle “Jennie Kennedy XO.” She has not confirmed rumors of being a paid escort, noting in the past, “This allegation is irrelevant to the work that needs to be done at the county: reduce property taxes & respond appropriately to crime.”

Simonetti initially positioned herself as the conservative candidate in this nonpartisan race but has recently highlighted her pro-choice stance. Her X (formerly Twitter) bio reads: “Pro-Choice Candidate for Hennepin County Commissioner D6 | Reduce Property Taxes & Crime | Do More, With Less.”

In April, Simonetti placed second in a six-candidate primary, advancing to a May special election, which she lost to Heather Edelson, a former DFL state representative who now holds the seat vacated by Chris LaTondresse.

Edelson, 43, a former DFL state representative from Edina, has publicly voiced skepticism about Simonetti’s candidacy, highlighting Simonetti’s legal issues as potential distractions from public service. At a Sept. 11 candidate forum, Edelson underscored the importance of integrity and balanced leadership in the role. An email requesting comment from Edelson on the latest developments was not immediately returned.

Despite the controversies, Simonetti remains optimistic about her campaign’s momentum as Election Day approaches. “We’re going to come in strong,” she said. “We have a huge amount of support.”

In June, the 3rd Congressional District Republican Party withdrew its recommendation for Simonetti, stating she “does not reflect our values.” Simonetti responded, “CD3 was lukewarm in their support for months. They don’t want candidates who can win. They want to grift and waste time. Good riddance.”

The Nov. 5 general election will decide who will serve a full four-year term starting in January 2025. District 6 includes parts of Eden Prairie, Edina, Hopkins, Minnetonka, and several other communities. The Hennepin County Board manages a $2.7 billion budget and provides essential services to over 1.3 million residents.