Man who sprayed vinegar at Rep. Ilhan Omar awaits sentencing in Minneapolis

A Minneapolis man who sprayed a water-and-vinegar mixture at U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar during a town hall meeting is expected to be sentenced on Wednesday after reaching an agreement with prosecutors.

Prosecutors have recommended a 14-month prison term for Anthony Kazmierczak, who is in his mid-50s. He was charged with assaulting a U.S. officer.

During an earlier court hearing, Kazmierczak told U.S. District Judge Joan N. Ericksen that he could not clearly recall the events of the January 27 assault. "It's fuzzy," he said when asked what he remembered.

Witnesses described Kazmierczak jumping up from the audience and spraying liquid from a syringe at Omar, saying she was "splitting Minnesota apart." Omar's security officers quickly tackled him to the ground and handed him over to police, who arrested him. The congresswoman was not injured and continued with the town hall after the arrest.

In a message to Omar, Kazmierczak wrote, "I'm sorry if I scared you," and accepted responsibility for his actions. Authorities later determined the liquid was a mixture of water and apple cider vinegar.

A government sentencing memorandum submitted by prosecutors said Kazmierczak had texted at least three people indicating he planned to do something at the meeting involving Omar but would not answer their questions about his intent. He also sent messages to a neighbor to arrange for dog care and to contacts for a bail bond company.

The memo noted that Kazmierczak had long struggled with alcohol abuse, had a history of mental and emotional health concerns, and had a string of health issues tied to a 2022 diagnosis of Parkinson's disease.

Omar, a refugee from Somalia, has frequently been a target of President Donald Trump's anti-immigrant rhetoric. After she was elected seven years ago, Trump said she should "go back" to her home country, and he has described her as "garbage" and called for her to be investigated.

In social media posts, Kazmierczak had criticized former President Joe Biden and referred to Democrats as "angry and liars." He wrote that Trump wants the U.S. to be "stronger and more prosperous."

The attack occurred amid Operation Metro Surge, during which more than 2,000 immigration officers swept through the Twin Cities in a major crackdown that led to angry protests, arrests, and the deaths of two U.S. citizens.