A Connecticut Democrat is under fire after being arrested for shoplifting — for the second time — at the exact same Target store, sparking calls for his resignation and questions about the culture of entitlement among elected officials.
State Rep. Raghib Allie-Brennan, 33, turned himself in to police on July 28 after a warrant was issued for a fresh round of shoplifting charges. The store? Target’s Bethel location — the same one where he was cuffed just weeks earlier in June.
Police say Allie-Brennan was caught on store cameras allegedly skipping the scanner on $26.69 worth of merchandise during his first arrest. At the time, he claimed he was “rushing” to bring the goods to his grandmother in the hospital.
But Target staff say they had seen this before. According to a store security affidavit, employees recognized the four-term Democrat from “previous unreported larcenies.” On July 28, they say they watched as Allie-Brennan stuffed items into a Goodfellow-brand bag and walked past the registers without paying. The haul that time was allegedly worth $54.55.
“He’s a repeat offender — and a state legislator,” Connecticut GOP Chairman Ben Proto told reporters. “This isn’t a misunderstanding. This is a pattern. In light of these allegations, Representative Allie-Brennan should step down immediately. Our state deserves better than leaders who think the law doesn’t apply to them.”
Allie-Brennan issued a short statement: “I’ve been upfront about taking responsibility for my actions. I’m taking accountability and look forward to continuing my work on behalf of our community.”
He has applied for Connecticut’s “Accelerated Rehabilitation” program — a first-offender diversion process that can lead to charges being dropped after counseling or community service. But critics say that’s a loophole politicians often use to dodge lasting consequences.
House Speaker Matt Ritter, a fellow Democrat, said he’s “concerned” about the behavior and confirmed Allie-Brennan will “take personal time away” from the legislature.
This isn’t the first time Connecticut Democrats have faced public embarrassment over criminal allegations. In recent years, several have faced charges ranging from DUI to corruption — a trend Republicans say highlights a deeper problem.
“President Trump is rebuilding this country with law and order,” Proto added, “but Democrats can’t even keep it together in their own state houses.”
Allie-Brennan’s court date was set for August 5 in state Superior Court. If convicted, he could face fines, probation, and political exile — though history shows Connecticut’s political machine has a way of protecting its own.
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I am not surprized by this at all. Democrat politicians are a scab over our CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC, and this one should spend some time in the hoosegow until he figures it out.
Second time, same store, more valuable items, time to put this thief away . Certainly expell him from any current or former job with the State.
Remove him, if he is an immigrant legal or illegal deported him. The immigration rules are clear. You agree to follow our laws. If you do not then you lose your citizenship. If he is a Muslim, sorry, communists, Muslims, Marxists, Socialists, and fascists which would include 99% of the state and national Congressional delegations, NY and CA governors and Mayor\’s, along with Oregons Governor most of CO\’s government etc. should all be removed, banned from holding any local, state, or federal office, not allowed to work in law or government, not on school boards or university faculty, and if they continue to espouse these diabolical views they should be deported if they are immigrants or illegal aliens and if they are American citizens given a choice to give up citizenship and leave or ve arrested, imprisoned fir twn years and be required to be on ankle monitors fir the rest if their lives for being a known subversive problem.
He’s a progressive/socialist. The laws against theft don’t apply to him. They only apply to people outside of his political party. Therefor, he doesn’t see what all the fuss is about.