A video posted to TikTok by Minnesota political candidate Marisa Simonetti shows her seemingly refusing to cooperate with an officer, citing her Fifth Amendment right. The Stillwater Police officer approaches her to ask about a nearby altercation, and she quickly asks those around her not to speak without an attorney present.
Commenters were sharply divided over the interaction, with many praising Sometti for asserting her constitutional right and requesting assistance, while others argued that cooperating with police would have made the situation much simpler.
In the video, a Stillwater police officer can be seen approaching Marisa Simonetti and can be heard saying, “When I say Stillwater Police, and I’m yelling at you, stop. Don’t keep walking.” Simonetti immediately asks if she is being detained, to which the officer replied that she was.
According to the officer, some sort of altercation happened, and he pinpointed the group that Simonetti was with as being involved somehow. Shortly after he says this, someone in Simonetti’s group can be heard saying, “No, the worker’s right there—” before being cut off by the politician.
Marisa Simonetti is currently running for election to the US Senate to represent Minnesota and will be on the ballot during the general election on November 3. This viral video would not be her first online incident, as she was reportedly found guilty on three criminal charges after allegedly tossing a tarantula at a tenant in an Airbnb, according to KSTP.
After the brief interaction with the officer, she requests an attorney, to which the officer replies with the question of her name. He explains that if she doesn’t provide it, he will place her in handcuffs. She then gives her name, and the video ends there.
However, she does ask someone who was standing with them during the situation to stay behind and act as a witness. It appears as though that person did stay behind.
Comments and Reactions to Marisa Simonetti Being Detained in Minnesota
Many commenters applauded her standing on her constitutional rights. One of the top comments reads, “If you’re guilty, get a lawyer. If you’re not guilty, DEFINITELY get a lawyer.“
However, not everyone agreed with her approach, as some viewers pinned blame on her simply for her previous actions. Another comment read, “Now, Marisa Simonetti….WHAT did you do?“
Exactly what led to the police interaction is still unclear, as the video ends after Simonetti identifies herself. No additional information about the altercation or whether any charges were filed has been made public.
As the video continues to go viral on TikTok, more viewers are leaving their opinions behind in the comments section.
