Share and Follow
The individual accused of assaulting Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., with an unusual liquid, which was later confirmed to be apple cider vinegar, will remain detained until his trial. The judge ruled that his release could pose a threat to public safety.
Anthony James Kazmierczak, aged 56, made a court appearance on Tuesday, following allegations that he used a syringe to squirt the congresswoman during a town hall meeting in Minneapolis last week.
His court-appointed lawyer, John Fossum, pointed out that Kazmierczak was dressed in a yellow jumpsuit, indicating his solitary confinement status. Fossum raised concerns regarding his client’s mental health.
Although Kazmierczak does not pose a flight risk, U.S. Magistrate Judge David Schultz decided to keep him in custody to ensure community safety. The judge cited charges filed in Hennepin County, which include a felony for making terroristic threats and a charge of fifth-degree assault, as reasons for this decision.
During the Minneapolis town hall, Rep. Ilhan Omar was reportedly targeted with the liquid spray. Anthony Kazmierczak was identified by the police as the suspect involved in the incident. (Minneapolis PD)
“This was a disturbing assault on Rep. Omar, who is frequently the target of vilifying language by fellow elected officials and members of the public,” Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said in a statement. “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.”
A man is tackled after spraying an unknown substance at Rep. Ilhan Omar during a town hall she was hosting in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Jan. 27, 2026. (Octavio Jones/AFP via Getty Images)
Fossum stated that his client is not in good health and is suffering from Parkinson’s disease and sleep apnea. He went on to argue that the “risk of harm” to Omar was “actually quite small,” saying that the liquid was relatively harmless.Â
However, Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Bejar argued that it could’ve caused bodily injury.
“Certainly that would cause bodily injury if that got in Rep. Omar’s eyes,” Bejar said. “We simply cannot have protesters and people, whatever side of the aisle you’re on, running up to a representative conducting official business.”
Kazmierczak allegedly admitted to Minneapolis police during his arrest that he had squirted vinegar on Omar.
Ilhan Omar was sprayed with an unknown substance during a press conference on Tuesday, Jan. 27. (Fox News)
When the alleged attack occurred, Omar was speaking about immigration policy and called for a transparent investigation and legal action against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, as well as the abolition of the agency. She also said Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem should resign or “face impeachment.”
Omar stepped back momentarily, appearing shaken after Kazmierczak allegedly sprayed her with the liquid. After a brief pause, Omar continued to address the crowd for at least another 10 minutes.
Kazmierczak has a criminal history and was convicted of driving while intoxicated in 2009 and again in 2010. Records indicate he served one day in jail followed by five years supervised probation for the 2010 conviction and was put on home detention for 30 days in relation to his 2009 conviction.