Man Charged After Spraying Vinegar on Ilhan Omar
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MINNEAPOLIS — The Justice Department charged Anthony Kazmierczak on Thursday with forcibly assaulting, opposing, impeding and intimidating Representative Ilhan Omar after he squirted a water and apple cider vinegar mixture at her during a Tuesday town hall. Court papers and an affidavit state the liquid stained Omar's clothing and may have reached her face and right eye, and include a photograph of the syringe alleged to have been used. The affidavit quotes the suspect and a close associate about past threats. Authorities contacted the federal defender's office; the suspect's legal status was unclear. Based on 7 articles reviewed and supporting research.
Prepared by Emily Rhodes and reviewed by editorial team.
Timeline of Events
- Years earlier: a close associate reported Kazmierczak said "somebody should kill" Rep. Omar, per an affidavit.
- Prior timeframe: Kazmierczak maintained online posts supportive of President Trump and had a criminal history.
- Tuesday: At a Minneapolis town hall, Kazmierczak allegedly sprayed Omar with a vinegar-and-water mix using a syringe.
- Immediately after: FBI agents documented stains, possible face and eye exposure, and photographed an alleged syringe for the affidavit.
- Thursday: The Justice Department filed federal charges alleging forcible assault and intimidation; court papers were made public.
- Articles Published:
- 7
- Right Leaning:
- 2
- Left Leaning:
- 0
- Neutral:
- 5
- Distribution:
- Left 0%, Center 71%, Right 29%
Federal prosecutors and law enforcement benefited from clear evidence to file charges, and institutions reviewing security protocols may strengthen protections for public officials.
Representative Ilhan Omar suffered physical contact, potential injury, and heightened security concerns; constituents and staff experienced disruption and increased political tension.
Coverage of Story:
From Left
No left-leaning sources found for this story.
From Center
Man Charged After Spraying Vinegar on Ilhan Omar
Daily News WPLG Pulse24.com Twin Cities WJARFrom Right
Justice Department charges man who squirted apple cidervinegar on Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar
Las Vegas Review-Journal New York Post
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