Man Who Sprayed Ilhan Omar With Apple Cider Vinegar Sentenced to 14 Months in Prison
A Minnesota man who sprayed Rep. Ilhan Omar with an apple cider vinegar mixture during a Minneapolis town hall earlier this year was sentenced Thursday to 14 months in federal prison.
Anthony Kazmierczak, 56, received the sentence nearly eight months after the Jan. 27 incident. He had previously pleaded guilty to assaulting a United States officer after reaching an agreement with federal prosecutors.
U.S. District Judge Joan Ericksen also sentenced Kazmierczak to three years of supervised release following his prison term. As part of those conditions, he is prohibited from contacting Omar.
The attack occurred while Omar was speaking at a public town hall in Minneapolis. Kazmierczak approached the Minnesota Democrat and used a syringe to spray a mixture containing water and apple cider vinegar toward her. The substance struck Omar and also affected Minneapolis City Council Member LaTrisha Vetaw.
Security personnel quickly restrained Kazmierczak and removed him from the event. Omar was not seriously injured and continued with the town hall following the disruption.
Federal prosecutors said the attack was politically motivated and presented evidence indicating that Kazmierczak had planned his actions in advance. The judge noted that he obtained tickets to the event weeks beforehand, while prosecutors pointed to text messages they said demonstrated preparation for the possibility that he would be arrested.
Kazmierczak had expressed anger over Omar’s political positions and immigration issues. According to court records, he admitted that he disagreed with the congresswoman’s views and planned the assault before attending the event.
During sentencing, Kazmierczak apologized for his actions. He also discussed mental health problems and said he had not been taking his medication in the period leading up to the incident. His defense additionally cited Parkinson’s disease and other health problems while asking the court to consider a lesser sentence.
The incident occurred during heightened tensions in Minneapolis surrounding federal immigration enforcement operations. Omar had been publicly criticizing the enforcement campaign and calling for changes to federal immigration policy when the attack occurred.
Kazmierczak was escorted from the courtroom by U.S. marshals following Thursday’s sentencing. After completing his 14-month prison term, he will remain under federal supervision and must comply with the court-ordered prohibition on contacting Omar.