Man who sprayed Ilhan Omar with liquid gets 14-month sentence

Anthony James Kazmierczak, 56, on Thursday received a 14-month prison sentence for assaulting U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., in January, according to the Justice Department. Kazmierczak sprayed Omar with a mixture of apple cider vinegar and water while she was speaking at a Minneapolis town hall meeting. He pleaded guilty in May to one count of assaulting a U.S. officer, according to the Justice Department.

When the incident occurred, Omar was calling for the resignation of then-Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Kazmierczak suddenly approached Omar and used a syringe to spray the liquid on her while yelling “She’s not resigning. You’re splitting Minnesotans apart,” according to the Justice Department. Security officers tackled and arrested him, and Omar continued with her remarks. The composition of the liquid was unknown at the time.

Investigators said his actions stemmed from political hatred. The FBI found that Kazmierczak planned his actions for weeks and took steps to prepare for an arrest. He ordered a ticket to the meeting, arranged for dog care, and contacted a bail bond company, according to the Justice Department.

Dig deeper: Read my earlier report on the incident.