Man who assaulted Rep. Ilhan Omar at Minnesota town hall pleads guilty
The man who doused Rep. Ilhan Omar with vinegar during a town hall in January pleaded guilty Thursday to one count of assaulting a U.S. officer.
Anthony James Kazmierczak, 55, admitted to attacking the Minnesota Democrat because he disagreed with her political views.
“This assault is another example of a dangerous national trend: people channeling political hatred into criminal acts,” said Daniel N. Rosen, the U.S. attorney for Minnesota.
Ms. Omar was hosting a town hall meeting on Jan. 27, amid the surge in immigration enforcement in her state. It was just days after Homeland Security agents shot and killed Alex Pretti and weeks after they killed Renee Good.
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At City Hall, Ms. Omar called for the resignation of Kristi Noem, then Homeland Security Secretary, when Kazmierczak, seated in front of the audience, stood up and walked toward the congresswoman. He then sprayed her with a syringe containing what later turned out to be apple cider vinegar and water.
“She’s not resigning. You’re dividing Minnesotans,” Kazmierczak shouted.
As he backed away, he was tackled to the ground by a member of the MP’s security services.
Ms. Omar briefly interrupted the public meeting, but then continued.
