A federal judge has ordered 56-year-old Anthony James Kazmierczak to remain in custody pending trial after prosecutors and the court concluded he poses a danger to the community following an alleged syringe-assisted spraying of Rep. Ilhan Omar at a Minneapolis town hall.
Kazmierczak appeared in federal court on Tuesday, about a week after authorities say he used a syringe to squirt a liquid later identified as apple cider vinegar at the congresswoman. Magistrate Judge David Schultz said Kazmierczak is not believed to be a flight risk, but ordered detention to reduce the risk to the community, citing state charges filed in Hennepin County.
Charges and Allegations
Hennepin County has filed charges that include one felony count of terroristic threats and one count of fifth-degree assault. Authorities say Kazmierczak allegedly admitted to Minneapolis police that he squirted vinegar on Omar during the event.
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.
Defense Claims and Health Concerns
Court-appointed defense attorney John Fossum told the court that Kazmierczak was wearing a yellow jumpsuit, which Fossum said indicates his client is being held in solitary confinement, and raised concerns about his mental and physical condition. Fossum said Kazmierczak suffers from Parkinson’s disease and sleep apnea and argued the liquid posed a relatively small risk of harm.
Prosecution Response
“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 that the incident has eroded trust in public safety being kept separate from politics and noted that a state-level conviction would not be subject to a presidential pardon.
Ilhan Omar was sprayed with an unknown substance during a press conference on Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Bejar countered that the substance could have caused bodily injury, particularly if it had reached Omar’s eyes, and argued that officials cannot allow individuals to rush up to a representative conducting official business.
Event Context and Aftermath
The alleged incident occurred while Omar was speaking about immigration policy; she called for a transparent investigation and legal action related to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and advocated abolition of the agency. According to court reporting, she also said that Kristi Noem should resign or "face impeachment." Omar appeared momentarily shaken after the spray but resumed speaking and continued addressing the audience for at least ten more minutes.
Criminal History
Records show Kazmierczak has prior convictions for driving while intoxicated in 2009 and 2010. For the 2010 conviction he served one day in jail followed by five years of supervised probation; the 2009 conviction resulted in 30 days of home detention.
Fox News Digital's Adam Sabes contributed to reporting on this case.
