Man Arrested for Allegedly Spraying Substance at Congresswoman Ilhan Omar During Minneapolis Event
A 55-year-old man has been taken into custody following an incident where he allegedly sprayed an unknown substance at Congresswoman and Somali leader Ilhan Omar during a town hall gathering in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The suspect, identified as Anthony Kazmierczak, reportedly used a syringe to target Omar while she was addressing supporters about protests against the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.
Immediate Aftermath and Charges
Omar remained on stage following the attack and nearly engaged in physical confrontation with Kazmierczak immediately after being sprayed. In footage captured by C-Span, the congresswoman was heard stating, "These f***ing ***holes are not going to get away with it." While the exact nature of the substance remains unidentified, photographs from the Associated Press revealed a light-brown liquid inside the syringe used during the incident. Kazmierczak now faces charges of third-degree assault and is currently listed on the Hennepin County jail roster.
Events Leading to the Attack
Kazmierczak's neighbor, Brian Kelley, described him as a "pretty conservative guy" who "doesn't like Omar." Kelley recalled that Kazmierczak asked him to watch his dog prior to the event, mentioning he was attending "this Omar thing" and might get arrested. Kelley initially dismissed these comments as nonsense, believing Kazmierczak wouldn't engage in reckless behavior. Additionally, Kelley noted that Kazmierczak was "heavily medicated" due to a car accident nine years ago that impacted his spine, and he also suffers from Parkinson's disease.
Social Media Presence and Background
On social media platforms, Kazmierczak expressed views aligning with some typical MAGA influencers. Using a Facebook profile under the name "Andy," he criticized the Biden administration, compared former President Biden to the Looney Tunes character Elmer Fudd, and reshared content from conservative commentator Ben Shapiro. Interestingly, he also showed support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, posting messages describing Vladimir Putin as an "evil leader." His shared images included his dog, an Israeli flag, and even former US President Donald Trump at a Turning Point USA event.
In his Facebook biography, Kazmierczak described himself as an "empty nester looking to enjoy retirement and 2nd half of my adventure," listing 22 years of experience as a phone company business consultant. Court records indicate he has two prior DUI convictions and has been married and divorced twice.
Context of the Attack and Political Reactions
The spray incident occurred shortly after Omar made critical remarks about ICE agents in Minneapolis, stating, "ICE cannot be reformed. It cannot be rehabilitated. We must abolish ICE for good, and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem must resign or face impeachment." Hours before the attack, former President Donald Trump criticized Omar in Iowa, suggesting immigrants should only be allowed into the country if they "love the United States." Following the incident, Trump claimed Omar planned the attack and had herself sprayed, adding, "I don't think about her. I think she's a fraud." He has previously alleged that Omar married her brother to facilitate his entry into the US.
On social media, some users speculated about the nature of the attack, with one post questioning why the substance was sprayed on Omar's shirt rather than more vulnerable areas like eyes or mouth, suggesting the incident might have been staged. However, authorities have proceeded with formal charges based on the evidence collected.
