A Minnesota man who sprayed U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar with a mixture of water and apple cider vinegar during a town hall meeting has been sentenced to 14 months in federal prison.
Anthony Kazmierczak, 56, was sentenced on Thursday after pleading guilty to assaulting a U.S. officer. He was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release, including a condition prohibiting him from contacting Omar.
The incident occurred on January 27 during a town hall meeting in Minneapolis. Kazmierczak was sitting among attendees when he suddenly approached Omar and sprayed liquid from a syringe at the congresswoman.
Security officers quickly intervened and restrained him before handing him over to police. Omar was not physically injured and continued with the meeting after the incident. Authorities later determined that the substance was a mixture of water and apple cider vinegar.
Federal prosecutors said evidence indicated that the incident had been planned in advance. According to court documents, Kazmierczak had communicated with several people before the town hall about doing something involving Omar and had also searched online for information related to the congresswoman and potential assault charges.
During the attack, witnesses heard Kazmierczak accuse Omar of “splitting Minnesota apart.” The incident occurred during a period of heightened political tensions in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area linked to a federal immigration enforcement operation.
In court, Kazmierczak apologized for the incident and said he was sorry for frightening Omar. His attorney argued for a shorter sentence, while prosecutors sought the 14-month term that was ultimately imposed.
U.S. District Judge Joan N. Ericksen said the attack was not simply a political statement and noted that Kazmierczak had obtained tickets to the town hall weeks before the incident. The judge imposed the 14-month prison sentence followed by supervised release.
The case highlights the security challenges faced by elected officials at public events, particularly amid heightened political tensions. Omar continued her public activities after the January incident, while Kazmierczak remains subject to the conditions imposed by the federal court.