Stelson campaign denies DHS claim that arrested Nigerian national canvassed for it
DHS says a Nigerian national arrested by ICE in Pennsylvania had worked as a canvasser for Democratic House candidate Janelle Stelson. Her campaign says he never worked for it.
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The story, neutrally told
Right · 2The Department of Homeland Security said on Wednesday 7 October that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had arrested Chimaobim Adedayo Igbojekwe, a Nigerian national, and identified him as a canvasser for Janelle Stelson, the Democratic nominee in Pennsylvania's 10th Congressional District. Just the NewsRC “The department identified the migrant as Chimaobim Adedayo Igbojekwe, who they said was working as a canvasser for Janelle Stelson” Read at Just the News ↗ Washington ExaminerR “A Wednesday press release from the Department of Homeland Security identified Igbojekwe as a former door-to-door canvasser for Stelson.” Read at Washington Examiner ↗ Right · 1The Washington Examiner reports that Igbojekwe, 35, was arrested on 27 September on one count of indecent exposure and two counts of disorderly conduct. He later pleaded guilty to one third-degree misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct, and the other charges were dropped. ICE arrested him on 1 October. Washington ExaminerR “was arrested Sept. 27 on one count of indecent exposure and two counts of disorderly conduct. He has since pleaded guilty to one third-degree misdemeanor disorderly conduct”“He was arrested Oct. 1 by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.” Read at Washington Examiner ↗ Right · 2Stelson's campaign denied any link. Campaign manager Alma Baker said in a statement that he "is not and has never been employed by the Janelle Stelson campaign" and that the campaign had never heard of him before news of his arrest. The campaign told the Washington Examiner he was neither a staffer nor a volunteer, and that if he is in the country illegally and committed a crime he should be deported. Just the NewsRC “"This individual is not and has never been employed by the Janelle Stelson campaign," Stelson campaign manager Alma Baker said in a statement.” Read at Just the News ↗ Washington ExaminerR “he was neither a staffer nor a volunteer.” Read at Washington Examiner ↗
Right · 1According to the Washington Examiner, the DHS release cited a local news story whose source was an X post by conservative activist Scott Presler. Washington ExaminerR “The agency cited a local news story, whose source for its reporting was an X post from conservative activist and social media influencer Scott Presler.” Read at Washington Examiner ↗ Right · 2DHS said Igbojekwe was lawfully admitted in June 2017 but stayed after his authorised period ended in 2019, and that the Biden administration granted him deferred action in 2021. Washington ExaminerR “overstayed his authorization period that ended in November 2019 and was granted deferred action by the Biden administration in September 2021, according to DHS.” Read at Washington Examiner ↗ Just the NewsRC “he remained in the U.S. illegally after his authorized period expired in 2019.” Read at Just the News ↗ Right · 2ICE Deputy Director Charles Wall called it "unbelievable that Janelle Stelson would employ an illegal alien to work on a congressional campaign". The National Republican Congressional Committee, through spokesman Reilly Richardson, also attacked Stelson, who is challenging Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA) in a rematch of 2024, which Perry won 50.5% to 49.3%. Just the NewsRC ““It’s unbelievable that Janelle Stelson would employ an illegal alien to work on a congressional campaign” Read at Just the News ↗ Washington ExaminerR “Perry narrowly defeated Stelson in 2024 50.5% to 49.3%.” Read at Washington Examiner ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right2 outlets
- Framing
- Both outlets report DHS's allegation and the campaign's denial. Just the News leads with the DHS claim; the Washington Examiner leads with the denial.
- Emphasis
- DHS and ICE statements, the criminal charge, immigration history under Trump and Biden, and Republican criticism of Stelson.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Neither outlet has independent confirmation of employment either way. Just the News does not mention the sourcing of the DHS claim.
- Charged language
- “Illegal alien”“pervert”“sicko”
- For example
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“ICE arrests Illegal alien working for Democratic congressional campaign in Pennsylvania” — Just the News
“House Democratic candidate denies illegal immigrant arrested by ICE works for campaign” — Washington Examiner
What every side reports
- DHS identified the man as Chimaobim Adedayo Igbojekwe, a Nigerian national arrested by ICE.
- He pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct over an alleged public exposure.
- The Stelson campaign denies he worked for it.
Where accounts differ
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Whether Igbojekwe worked for the Stelson campaign
- Right
- DHS and ICE say he was a canvasser. The campaign says he never worked for it, and the Washington Examiner notes the claim traces to a social media post.
Janelle Stelson person
Her campaign denies that Igbojekwe ever worked for it and says it welcomes his arrest.
“We never heard of him prior to the news of his arrest. We are grateful to law enforcement for acting swiftly to arrest him.” — Washington Examiner
Immigration and Customs Enforcement organisation
ICE's deputy director condemns the alleged employment and says DHS targets dangerous illegal aliens.
“The Trump Administration will always put the safety of the American people first.” — Just the News
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right2 articles
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ICE arrests Illegal alien working for Democratic congressional campaign in Pennsylvania
Mixed Headline states the employment as fact, but the text attributes it to DHS and includes the denial.
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House Democratic candidate denies illegal immigrant arrested by ICE works for campaign
Neutral Leads with the campaign's denial and notes DHS's claim traces to a social media post, while including the NRCC's attack.
- 8 Oct 01:00 First Washington ExaminerR House Democratic candidate denies illegal immigrant arrested by ICE works for campaign
- 8 Oct 01:30 +29m Just the NewsRC ICE arrests Illegal alien working for Democratic congressional campaign in Pennsylvania
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.