A Minnesota man is in federal custody after authorities say he sprayed U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar with a mix of water and apple cider vinegar. The suspect, Anthony Kazmierczak, was charged on Thursday with forcibly assaulting and intimidating the congresswoman following the incident at a Tuesday event.
According to court documents, the confrontation was personal.
After dousing Omar with the liquid, Kazmierczak allegedly yelled, “She’s not resigning. You’re splitting Minnesotans apart.” The investigation also uncovered a darker history, with the affidavit stating that Kazmierczak once told an associate that “somebody should kill” Omar.
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The incident has quickly become a flashpoint between Omar and President Donald Trump. Kazmierczak reportedly has a criminal record and has posted support for Trump online.
Omar stated on Wednesday that the President’s rhetoric fuels threats against her. This comes at a difficult time for Minneapolis, where tensions are high after federal agents killed two people during a recent immigration crackdown.
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President Trump rejected any blame and accused Omar of staging the assault herself. He told ABC News, “She probably had herself sprayed, knowing her.”
It is currently unclear if Kazmierczak has hired an attorney. The federal defender’s office in Minnesota did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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