Anthony Kazmierczak, the man apprehended in connection with Tuesday’s incident, is charged with forcibly assaulting, resisting, impeding, and intimidating Omar, as stated in a federal court complaint.

Investigators discovered that the liquid involved was a mixture of water and apple cider vinegar, according to the affidavit.

After spraying Omar with the liquid, Kazmierczak allegedly remarked, “She’s not resigning. You’re splitting Minnesotans apart.”

Court documents also reveal that Kazmierczak reportedly expressed to a close acquaintance several years ago that “somebody should kill” Omar.

Kazmierczak made a brief appearance in federal court on Thursday afternoon. His lawyer, Jean Brandl, informed the judge that Kazmierczak was unmedicated during the incident and currently lacks access to necessary medications for his Parkinson’s disease and other significant health issues.

US Magistrate Judge Dulce Foster ordered that Kazmierczak remain in custody and told officials he needs to see a nurse when he is transferred to the Sherburne County Jail.

“This was a disturbing assault on Representative Omar, who is frequently the target of vilifying language by fellow elected politicians and members of the public,” Moriarty said.

“The trust of our community in the federal government keeping politics out of public safety has been eroded by their actions. A state-level conviction is not subject to a presidential pardon now or in the future.”

The attack came during a perilous political moment in Minneapolis, where two people have been fatally shot by federal agents during the White House’s aggressive immigration crackdown.

During a speech in Iowa earlier this week, shortly before Omar was attacked, he said immigrants need to be proud of the United States — “not like Ilhan Omar”.

Omar blamed Trump on Wednesday for threats to her safety.

“Every time the president of the United States has chosen to use hateful rhetoric to talk about me and the community that I represent, my death threats skyrocket,” Omar told reporters.

Trump accused Omar of staging the attack, telling ABC News, “She probably had herself sprayed, knowing her.”

Kazmierczak was convicted of felony auto theft in 1989, has been arrested multiple times for driving under the influence and has had numerous traffic citations, Minnesota court records show. There are also indications he has had significant financial problems, including two bankruptcy filings.

In social media posts, Kazmierczak criticised former president Joe Biden and referred to Democrats as “angry and liars”. Trump “wants the US is stronger and more prosperous,” he wrote. “Stop other countries from stealing from us.”

In another post, Kazmierczak asked, “When will descendants of slaves pay restitution to Union soldiers’ families for freeing them/dying for them, and not sending them back to Africa?”

Threats against members of Congress have increased in recent years, peaking in 2021 following the January 6 attack on the US Capitol by a mob of Trump supporters before dipping slightly, only to climb again, according to the most recent figures from the US Capitol Police.

Officials said they investigated nearly 15,000 “concerning statements, behaviours, and communications directed against Members of Congress, their families, staff, and the Capitol Complex” in 2025.

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