A Minneapolis man who sprayed a water-and-apple-cider-vinegar mixture at Rep. Ilhan Omar during a Jan. 27 town hall is set to be sentenced Wednesday after a plea deal. Prosecutors recommend a 14-month prison term for Anthony Kazmierczak, who told a judge he could not fully recall the incident, saying, "It's fuzzy." Witnesses say he leapt from the audience, sprayed Omar and was quickly subdued; officials say the act occurred amid a large immigration enforcement operation in the Twin Cities.
Man Who Sprayed Vinegar at Rep. Ilhan Omar Faces 14-Month Sentence Recommendation After Plea
FILE - Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., speaks during a news conference on Jan. 28, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Adam Gray, File)(AP Photo/Adam Gray)
A Minneapolis man who sprayed a mixture of water and apple cider vinegar at Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar during a Jan. 27 town hall is scheduled to be sentenced Wednesday after reaching a plea deal with prosecutors.
Details of the Incident
Prosecutors have recommended a 14-month prison term for Anthony Kazmierczak, who is in his mid-50s. Witnesses say Kazmierczak abruptly rose from the audience during the meeting, sprayed liquid from a syringe toward Omar and shouted that she was "splitting Minnesota apart." Security officers quickly tackled him; police then arrested him. Omar was not injured and continued the town hall after the arrest.
"It's fuzzy," Kazmierczak told U.S. District Judge Joan N. Ericksen when asked what he remembered about the Jan. 27 incident.
Authorities later determined the substance sprayed was a mixture of water and apple cider vinegar. Kazmierczak was charged with assaulting a U.S. officer. He later sent a message to Omar saying, "I'm sorry if I scared you," accepting responsibility for his actions.
FILE - A man is tackled to the ground after spraying an unknown substance on U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., during a town hall on Jan. 27, 2026, in Minneapolis. (Richard Tsong-Taatarii/Minnesota Star Tribune via AP, File)(Richard Tsong-Taatarii/Minnesota Star Tribune via AP)
What Prosecutors Say
In a government sentencing memorandum, prosecutors say Kazmierczak texted at least three people indicating he planned to do something at the meeting involving Omar but would not answer questions about his intent. He also messaged a neighbor to arrange care for his dog and contacted a bail bond company before the event, according to the memo.
The filing describes a history of alcohol abuse, "mental and emotional health concerns," and a series of medical problems tied to a 2022 diagnosis of Parkinson's disease.
Context
Omar, a refugee from Somalia, has frequently been the target of harsh rhetoric from former President Donald Trump and others. The incident occurred during Operation Metro Surge, a large-scale immigration enforcement operation in the Twin Cities that involved more than 2,000 officers and prompted protests, arrests and investigations after the deaths of two U.S. citizens.
The court will determine Kazmierczak's sentence after considering the plea agreement and the parties' recommendations.
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