A Minneapolis man, Anthony Kazmierczak, 56, was sentenced to 14 months in federal prison for spraying Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) with diluted apple cider vinegar during a town hall meeting on January 27, 2026. Kazmierczak also received three years of supervised release, which includes an order to avoid contact with Omar. He admitted to the assault but struggled to explain his motives. The incident occurred amid Operation Metro Surge, an immigration crackdown in the Twin Cities, and against a backdrop of ongoing hostile rhetoric directed at Omar, who is a Somali-born congresswoman.
Kazmierczak's sentencing took place nearly eight months after the attack, which led to his arrest by police officers after Omar's security team intervened. During the incident, witnesses reported that Kazmierczak jumped from the audience and sprayed the liquid while accusing Omar of “splitting Minnesota apart.” He later expressed remorse in a letter to Omar, stating, “I’m sorry if I scared you.”
The court's sentencing memorandum indicated that Kazmierczak had communicated with multiple individuals about planning an action involving Omar but did not clarify his intentions. He has a history of alcohol abuse and mental health issues, including a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease in 2022. The incident occurred during a period of heightened tensions related to immigration enforcement in the area, which had resulted in protests and arrests.
Omar has been a frequent target of political attacks, particularly from former President Trump, who has made derogatory remarks about her since her election seven years ago. Kazmierczak had also made critical comments about former President Biden and the Democratic Party on social media.