A Minnesota man who sprayed Democratic U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar with a mixture of water and apple cider vinegar during a Minneapolis town hall has been sentenced to 14 months in federal prison. Anthony James Kazmierczak, 56, received the sentence nearly eight months after the January assault, which occurred during a period of heightened tensions over immigration enforcement in the Twin Cities.
The federal court also ordered three years of supervised release, including a restriction preventing Kazmierczak from contacting Omar. He pleaded guilty to assaulting a federal official and later apologized for the incident.
Anthony Kazmierczak Receives Federal Prison Sentence
U.S. District Judge Joan N. Ericksen handed down the sentence on Thursday following a plea agreement between Kazmierczak and federal prosecutors.
The defendant admitted to attacking Omar during a January 27 town hall meeting in Minneapolis. The incident drew attention after video showed him approaching the congresswoman with a syringe containing liquid.
As part of the sentence, Kazmierczak will serve 14 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release. The no-contact condition prohibits him from communicating with Omar.
During the hearing, Kazmierczak expressed regret for his actions and apologized to the congresswoman.
“I really apologize to her for having put her through that,” he said in court.
Details of the January Town Hall Assault
The attack took place while Omar was addressing attendees at a Minneapolis town hall. Witnesses said Kazmierczak rose from the audience and sprayed liquid at the lawmaker from a syringe.
He reportedly shouted that Omar was “splitting Minnesota apart” and demanded that she resign. Her security team quickly intervened, bringing him to the ground before police took him into custody.
Authorities later identified the liquid as a mixture of water and apple cider vinegar. Omar was not physically injured and continued the town hall after the incident.
Kazmierczak’s guilty plea acknowledged that he assaulted a federal official. Prosecutors said the attack was not simply an unplanned outburst and presented evidence indicating he had made preparations before attending the event.
Prosecutors Point to Evidence of Advance Planning
According to court filings, Kazmierczak had communicated with several people before the town hall about doing something involving Omar. Prosecutors said he did not explain his intentions when questioned.
The filings also described messages he sent to a neighbor about arranging care for his dog, along with inquiries about bail bond services.
His defense attorney argued that Kazmierczak’s mental health and medical circumstances contributed to the incident. Court records referenced a history of alcohol abuse and emotional health concerns, as well as health problems associated with a Parkinson’s disease diagnosis in 2022.
During an earlier court appearance, Kazmierczak struggled to explain what he remembered about the assault, telling the judge, “It’s fuzzy.”
The case unfolded against the backdrop of immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis and St. Paul, where political tensions had intensified. Omar had been speaking critically about federal immigration enforcement when the attack occurred.
The sentence brings the federal criminal proceedings against Kazmierczak to a major stage, while separate state-level legal matters have also been reported.
