Trump Republican aiming to unseat Ilhan Omar charged with felony theft..

[HipChick]

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jul/25/danielle-stella-republican-ilhan-omar-charged-felony-qanon-trump

A pro-Trump Republican candidate for Congress who is aiming to unseat Ilhan Omar in Minnesota has been charged with a felony after allegedly stealing from stores.

Danielle Stella was arrested twice this year in Minneapolis suburbs over allegations that she shoplifted items worth more than $2,300 from a Target and goods valued at $40 from a grocery store. She said she denied the allegations.Stella, a 31-year-old special education teacher, was reported this week to be a supporter of the baseless “QAnon” conspiracy theory about Donald Trump battling a global cabal of elite liberal paedophiles.

Stella is accused of stealing 279 items valued at $2,327.97 from a Target store in Edina, to the south-west of Minneapolis, on 8 January this year. She was arrested for the alleged theft after security staff called the police.A criminal complaint filed to Hennepin county district court alleged Stella was seen leaving the store without paying for most of her haul, after “scanning only a few other items” that were valued at about $50.

Danielle Stella. In a series of text messages, Stella said: ‘I am not guilty of these crimes.’
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Danielle Stella. In a series of text messages, Stella said: ‘I am not guilty of these crimes.’
The complaint said Stella told police in a statement she “remembers arriving at Target to purchase items but nothing else” due to post-traumatic stress disorder, and that she “normally she goes to Target with someone because of anxiety around people”

[RKP5637]

1. Republican Values!!! n/t

[bitterross]

2. She has PTSD and memory lapses. Sounds mentally unfit for office.

If the person needs an escort to go shopping at Target, they are not mentally fit to be in Congress. No offense toward people with PTSD or mental illness intended. I don't think blind people should be issued drivers licenses either. There are limits to reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities.

[HipChick]

3. I could understand for a few items but 279 items?

Sounds pre-meditated..

[Liberal In Texas]

4. She sounds like a real nut-job.

Should fit right in with the rest of the repubs.

[Tech]

5. The racist woman at the restaurant this week also used anxiety as an excuse.

I call bs, I have suffered from and been treated for anxiety disorder for many many years. I have read and discussed with docs the many reasons for it and the results of having it. I have never shoplifted, not have I ever used the n word. I get really angry at people who use mental illness to excuse bad judgement and bad behavior. Anxiety is an effect, not a cause.

[Caliman73]

6. I agree.

I have not heard of anxiety disorder relating to shoplifting or using racist language either.

I have seen personally and seen some research indicating that psychotic and manic episodes can lead to a dis-inhibition (like when using alcohol or drugs) in people but again, that is not to say that the condition of mental illness creates this situation, it merely removes or loosens the filter on what was underlying. I have a relative who when they are not symptomatic, is the nicest person, willing to give the shirt of their back. I have also seen my relative use foul racist language when psychotic. One of the reasons I got into the field of behavioral health is the curiosity the behavior sparked in me. How does it happen that this super calm, nice, charitable person can say such horrible things and do such dangerous things? I had a client who was a farmer and had a good organic food business who in a manic episode stole a 20 million dollar yacht and ran it aground. The client remembered doing it but felt dissociated from the act as if they were watching themselves from the outside. The client owned up to doing it and took responsibility for it without arguing that "it was the bipolar disorder".

People use mental health conditions as an excuse way too often, as a way to separate themselves from anti-social acts. Now, when someone is full on psychotic, manic, in the throes of Depression, having a panic attack etc... it is true that they are not fully in control of their behaviors and decision-making. We have to stipulate that. For example, if someone is experiencing auditory and visual hallucinations that are of the command type and are telling them they must flee from "agents" who are after them, that person is going to do things that they would likely not do if their symptoms were not active. Same with someone who has Major Depression and is suicidal. The condition and symptoms can definitely have an effect on what they do.

It seems that Ms. Stella does have some mental health or cognitive challenges, but knowing that she should evaluate her choices and the strategies she uses to keep herself and the community safe. It is sad that she is being encouraged to make a spectacle of herself.

[Thunderbeast]

7. Where do they find these people?