Anthony Kazmierczak, 56, pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday to assaulting Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) during a January town hall meeting in Minneapolis. The plea deal is expected to reduce his potential prison sentence from up to eight years to 14 months.
Kazmierczak sprayed Omar with apple cider vinegar after she called for the resignation of former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Court documents allege he made threatening remarks about Omar before the attack, including telling an associate years earlier that "somebody should kill that b****." During the incident, Kazmierczak reportedly shouted, "She’s not resigning. You’re splitting Minnesotans apart," before spraying Omar. Security officers tackled him, and Omar continued the event without injury.
The case drew national attention amid broader concerns over political violence. Omar, a refugee from Somalia, has been a frequent target of criticism from former President Donald Trump, who has called for her to be investigated and described her as "garbage."