False Accusations Against Janelle Stelson’s Campaign Concerning Employment Claims
The Trump administration recently faced scrutiny over a false claim involving Democrat Janelle Stelson’s congressional campaign and an undocumented immigrant. The White House alleged that Stelson’s campaign employed Chimaobim Adedayo Igbojekwe, a Nigerian man accused of indecent exposure. However, this assertion has been discredited.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released a statement on October 7 detailing Igbojekwe’s arrest in Pennsylvania, inaccurately labeling him a “canvasser for congressional candidate Janelle Stelson.” Nonetheless, such claims contradict federal regulations that mandate candidates publicly report any individuals receiving payment or employment, with Igbojekwe’s name absent from Stelson’s Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings.
Reacting promptly, Stelson’s campaign repudiated any affiliation with Igbojekwe. Campaign manager Alma Baker emphasized, “This individual is not and has never been employed by the Janelle Stelson campaign. If he is an illegal immigrant who committed a crime he should be deported. We never heard of him prior to the news of his arrest. We are grateful to law enforcement for acting swiftly to arrest him.”
Social Media and Media Outlet Misinformation
Uncertainty surrounds the White House’s basis for this claim, but far-right influencers like LibsOfTikTok and Benny Johnson swiftly spread the misinformation online. The DHS’s assertion of Igbojekwe’s ties to Stelson’s campaign, allegedly corroborated by “local reporting,” is also unfounded. The source cited, Shore News Network, is a conservative-biased outlet that received its information from Scott Pressler, a far-right activist without any governmental or law enforcement affiliation.
Stelson is currently contesting against Republican Rep. Scott Perry in Pennsylvania’s 10th District, a race noted for its competitiveness in the 2026 elections.
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