Man pleads guilty to spraying Rep. Ilhan Omar with vinegar at town hall
Go Deeper.
Create an account or log in to save stories.
Like this?
Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.
A Minneapolis man admitted Thursday that he used a syringe to spray Rep. Ilhan Omar with vinegar at a town hall event earlier this year.
An agreement with federal prosecutors calls for Anthony Kazmierczak, 55, to spend eight to 14 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to assaulting a federal officer. U.S. District Judge Joan Ericksen has the final say on sentencing.
Omar, a DFLer, was speaking to constituents at the Urban League in north Minneapolis on Jan. 27, where she called for then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to resign following the killings by immigration agents of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
Kazmierczak moved toward the lectern and squirted a liquid on her from a syringe. The substance turned out to be apple cider vinegar.
Turn Up Your Support
MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all.
“I assume you don’t just walk around at all times with a syringe,” Ericksen said. “Did you bring the syringe to the meeting intending to use it in the manner that you ultimately did?”
“Yes,” Kazmierczak replied.
“Do you have disagreements with Rep. Omar’s views?” the judge asked.
“I do, Your Honor.”
Omar was not injured and resumed speaking. Security guards tackled Kazmierczak and police arrested him. Kazmierczak has been held in pretrial detention at the Shurburne County Jail since the incident.
