Minneapolis — The man who sprayed vinegar on the Democratic US Representative. Ilhan Omar At a city council meeting in Minneapolis, he pleaded guilty to assault Thursday in federal court after reaching a plea deal with prosecutors.
Anthony Kazmierczak, 55, is awaiting sentencing.
Kazmierczak, wearing bright orange prison clothing, offered only a fragmentary explanation Thursday January 27 attackwhich came while the city was already on the brink after that Two people were shot dead By federal agents during a White House campaign That brought thousands of immigration officers to Minnesota.
After being asked what he remembered about the assault, he told U.S. District Judge Joan N. Eriksen: “It’s vague.”
Kazmierczak, who was in the audience during Omar’s town hall in January, jumped when the actor called for the ouster of the then Homeland Security secretary. Kristi Noem. He sprayed liquid from a syringe, as court documents state he shouted that Noem would not resign and that Omar was “splitting Minnesota into pieces.”
Security officers confronted Kazmierczak, who told them the liquid was vinegar.
“I didn’t want anyone to think she was in danger,” he said Thursday.
Omar, who was not injured, continued to attend the city hall after the arrest.
Authorities later determined that he sprayed her with a mixture of water and apple cider vinegar. He was charged with assaulting an American officer.
Court documents say Kazmierczak, a critic of Ilhan Omar who has made online posts supportive of President Donald Trump, told a confidant several years ago that “someone should kill her.”
age, Refugee from SomaliaHe has long been a target of Trump’s anti-immigrant rhetoric. After her election seven years ago, Trump said she had to do it “Return” to her homeland. I have She described it as “trash.” She said she should be investigated.
Trump also accused Ilhan Omar of orchestrating the attack, telling ABC News: “She probably sprayed herself, and she knew it.”
On Thursday, Kazmierczak told Erickson that he was being treated for Parkinson’s disease, and that he had been diagnosed with ADHD, or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and a form of post-traumatic stress.
After his arrest, his lawyer at the time said he was unable to obtain the medications he needed to treat Parkinson’s disease and other serious conditions.
Minnesota court records show Kazmierczak, who was convicted of felony carjacking in 1989, had been arrested several times for drunk driving and had numerous traffic citations. There are also indications that he had major financial problems, including bankruptcy.
In his posts on social media, Kazmierczak criticized former President Joe Biden and referred to Democrats as “angry and liars.” Trump wrote that he wants the United States to be “stronger and more prosperous.”
Threats against members of Congress have increased in recent years, peaking in 2021 after the January 6 attack on the US Capitol. A crowd of Trump supporters Before it went down a little, it went up again, according to the latest numbers from the US Capitol Police.