Minneapolis Man Sentenced to 14 Months for Vinegar Attack on Rep. Ilhan Omar

Anthony Kazmierczak, 56, was sentenced Thursday to 14 months in prison for spraying vinegar at Rep. Ilhan Omar during a January town hall in Minneapolis.

Minneapolis Man Gets 14-Month Sentence for Vinegar Attack on Ilhan Omar

Anthony J. Kazmierczak, 56, was sentenced Thursday to 14 months in federal prison for spraying a water-and-apple-cider-vinegar mixture at Democratic U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar during a Minneapolis town hall on Jan. 27, mprnews.org reports. He was also sentenced to three years of supervised release with a condition of no contact with Omar. U.S. marshals escorted him from the courtroom immediately after sentencing.

U.S. District Judge Joan N. Ericksen rejected any framing of the assault as a spontaneous act. "This wasn't a spur of the moment act," she said, noting that Kazmierczak had secured tickets to the event weeks in advance. "An attack on a public figure is not a political statement. It is misguided, selfish, and inconsistent with any concept of a free or democratic society." Spraying anything at an elected official, Ericksen added, "is a terrifying thing, and you knew that when you did it."

The sentencing came nearly eight months after the attack, which took place as the Twin Cities was experiencing heightened tension over federal immigration enforcement operations that had led to protests, arrests and the deaths of two U.S. citizens at the hands of federal officers.

Kazmierczak, who has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, shook visibly at times as he sat at the defense table. He spoke quietly and haltingly, occasionally wiping away tears. He told the court he had been a good neighbor and described how his legal troubles and incarceration had worsened his health conditions. His attorney, John Fossum, argued that Kazmierczak had not been taking his mental health medications at the time of the attack, which lowered his inhibitions and contributed to his behavior.

"I've spent enough time in jail thinking," Kazmierczak said, his voice barely audible. "I really apologize to her for having put her through that." In an earlier hearing, he had been unable to explain his actions, telling Ericksen only that his memory of the event was "fuzzy." After the attack, he had written to Omar: "I'm sorry if I scared you."

Witnesses at the town hall saw Kazmierczak jump up from the audience, spray liquid from a syringe at Omar and shout that she was "splitting Minnesota apart." Omar's security officers tackled him and turned him over to police. Omar was not injured and resumed the town hall after his arrest.

Prosecutors' sentencing memorandum noted that Kazmierczak had texted at least three people before the event indicating he planned to do something involving Omar at the meeting, but refused to answer their questions about his intentions. He also sent a message to a neighbor arranging dog care and requested contact information for a bail bond company.

The memo described a long history of alcohol abuse, mental and emotional health concerns, and a string of physical ailments linked to his 2022 Parkinson's diagnosis. In social media posts, Kazmierczak had criticized former President Joe Biden and referred to Democrats as "angry and liars," while writing that President Trump wants the country to be "stronger and more prosperous."

He pleaded guilty in May to assaulting a U.S. officer.

Omar, a refugee from Somalia, has for years been a target of anti-immigrant rhetoric from President Trump, who in 2019 said she should "go back" to her country of birth and has since described her as "garbage."

Source: NYT US News