Aspiring GOP lawmaker Marisa Simonetti refuses to deny she is an escort and says job helped her earn lots of cash, as she's accused of hurling tarantula at woman

An aspiring Minnesota Republican lawmaker accused of hurling a tarantula at her roommate has refused to deny that she is an escort.

Hennepin County Board candidate Marisa Simonetti, 30, was arrested earlier this month after she allegedly threw a tarantula and other items at a woman who was renting a room in the property she lives in.

The candidate has now been accused of having worked as an escort, which she did not deny when questioned about it by the Star Tribune. 

In a statement, Simonetti said: 'I have done nothing wrong or to be ashamed of. When you are a woman, with an infant and no money, living with domestic violence, you can’t "just leave."

'I made a plan to protect my son and I executed, and now hold considerable wealth. I refuse to accept any narrative that shames or blames women for the autonomy they exercise over their own bodies.'

Simonetti also told the Star Tribune: 'It sure beats swiping on Tinder endlessly and having my time wasted by guys who want a free fun time.'

The Republican did admit she had an OnlyFans account. 

Local Republicans have distanced themselves from the candidate, saying she 'does not reflect our values' and 'has only served to embarrass the Republican Party.'

Simonetti, 30, who has been running on a 'Rebuilding Safety through Family Values' campaign for this year's election was charged with fifth degree assault charges and domestic assault following the incident with her roommate.

According to reports, the aspiring congresswoman was also charged with a felony count of financial card fraud against her former lover last year. 

Simonetti claimed in an interview with Fox 9 that she rented her basement to local attorney Jackie Vasquez who needed to study for the California bar exam, but the arrangement fell apart less than three weeks later.

Vasquez recorded Simonetti blasting Christian music and banging pots and pans before she tossed a tarantula down the stairs.

It's unclear how Simonetti rented the room as she is not the property's owner. 

Simonetti told Fox that she had asked Vasquez to leave because she had too many complaints, but said Vazquez refused.

The politician claimed Vasquez was 'squatting' at the property but the victim insists she had paid $1,500 to stay there through AirBnb. 

Simonetti added that she was inspired by the movie Home Alone.

'And at the end of the day, unhinged got her out of the house,' Simonetti said.

The aspiring lawmaker's campaign page describes her as the only conservative candidate in the race who hopes to rebuild safety through family values. 

In an effort to promote her campaign message and gain support, Simonetti once posted a video on X saying that having 'low standards is selfish' and how tired she is of hearing that 'Minnesota is an embarrassment'.

But despite utilizing classic GOP election strategies, she has already lost the May 14 special election for the vacant District 6 seat on the county board to State Representative Heather Edelson.

She was campaigning to become one of the seven Hennepin County Board commissioners who are tasked to approve budgets for both the county attorney and sheriff offices.

Despite the loss, Simonetti has previously indicated that she will once again compete against Edelson in the upcoming November election.

Previously, the conservative candidate had been accused of making transactions on the victim's financial cards and accounts in amounts totaling $75,000 and $8,876.

The felony charges were ultimately dropped after the victim refused to cooperate with prosecutors.