- The man researched Omar, her security, and legal charges before the incident, showing it was not impulsive.
- The judge condemned the attack as a ‘terrifying’ act inconsistent with a free and democratic society.
- The man still faces a pending state case, with prosecutors reviewing the federal proceedings to determine the next steps.
A Minnesota man who sprayed Rep. Ilhan Omar with apple cider vinegar during a town hall will spend more than a year behind bars.
According to The Hill, Anthony Kazmierczak, 55, was sentenced Thursday to 14 months in federal prison after reaching a plea agreement with prosecutors in connection with the January incident. The sentence was the maximum for his federal charge of assaulting a U.S. officer.
The Hill, citing The Associated Press, reported that Kazmierczak was also sentenced to three years of supervised release, which includes a no-contact order involving Omar.
Prosecutors had recommended a sentence of eight to 14 months, citing Kazmierczak’s May guilty plea to a “one-count indictment, pursuant to a plea agreement” and his previous encounters with law enforcement.
The Hill states that Minnesota court records show Kazmierczak was previously convicted of felony auto theft in 1989 and has been arrested multiple times for driving under the influence.
Judge Says Attack Was Not ‘A Spur Of The Moment Act’
U.S. District Judge Joan Ericksen pushed back against the idea that Kazmierczak acted impulsively.
In The Hill, Ericksen said Kazmierczak’s actions were not “a spur of the moment act,” noting that he purchased tickets to the Minneapolis town hall weeks before the incident.
A livestream from the event shows Kazmierczak standing and yelling at Omar as the Minnesota congresswoman spoke at the podium. At the time, Omar was calling for then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to resign or face impeachment over her handling of shootings in Minneapolis related to immigration enforcement.
The livestream then shows Kazmierczak spraying Omar before he was tackled to the ground.
Federal investigators later uncovered additional details about what Kazmierczak had allegedly been researching before the town hall.
According to the Hill, in prosecutor filings, an FBI investigation found that Kazmierczak conducted online searches in the weeks leading up to the event involving Omar, measures surrounding her private security detail, bail bond companies, GoFundMe fundraising procedures and potential charging statutes for assaulting a public official.
Ericksen condemned the attack while handing down the sentence.
“An attack on a public figure is not a political statement. It is misguided, selfish, and inconsistent with any concept of a free or democratic society,” Ericksen said, according to The Hill.
The judge described what Omar experienced as “a terrifying thing.”
“And you knew that when you did it,” Ericksen added.
Kazmierczak Still Faces A Pending State Case
The January incident drew condemnation from Democratic lawmakers as well as several Republican lawmakers.
The Hill reports that President Donald Trump suggested the attack had been staged, while noting there was no evidence to support that claim.
Although Kazmierczak has now received his federal sentence, his legal troubles related to the incident may not be over.
According to The Hill, Kazmierczak still faces a pending case in state court.
Daniel Borgertpoepping, a spokesperson for the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office, told The Hill that prosecutors will consider the federal proceedings as they determine how to handle the remaining case.
“Our office will review Mr. Kazmierczak’s federal case and plea, communicate with the victims, and decide on an appropriate path forward,” Borgertpoepping said.
The Hill reports that it also reached out to the Minnesota Justice Department’s office for comment.
