A Minnesota man who sprayed liquid at Rep. Ilhan Omar during a Minneapolis town hall was sentenced Thursday, Sept. 17, to 14 months in federal prison, nearly eight months after the attack disrupted a public meeting and prompted a federal prosecution.
Anthony James Kazmierczak, 56, received an additional three years of supervised release and a no-contact order with Omar. Prosecutors said the attack was planned in advance, pointing to online research about the congresswoman and preparations Kazmierczak made before the event.
What happened at Ilhan Omar's town hall?
Kazmierczak was seated in the front row of Omar's Minneapolis town hall when he suddenly stood, approached the congresswoman and sprayed liquid from a syringe. The substance struck Omar's jacket and landed on her face and hand,
according to court records.
Security officers quickly tackled Kazmierczak, and Minneapolis police took him into custody. Omar was not injured and continued the event after the disruption.
Laboratory testing later determined the liquid was a mixture of water and apple cider vinegar.
Prosecutors said attack was planned
Federal prosecutors argued the attack was not spontaneous.
According to court documents, Kazmierczak bought a ticket to the town hall weeks before the event and sent messages to others suggesting he planned to do something involving Omar. Prosecutors also said he arranged care for his dog, sought bail bond information and researched Omar, her security measures and potential criminal penalties before the event.
During sentencing, U.S. District Judge Joan N. Ericksen said the evidence showed the attack was planned in advance.
"An attack on a public figure is not a political statement," Ericksen said, according to CNN. "It is misguided, selfish, and inconsistent with any concept of a free or democratic society."
What did Kazmierczak say?
As he sprayed the liquid, Kazmierczak shouted: "She's not resigning. You're splitting Minnesotans apart," court records show.
After being taken into custody, he told a Minneapolis police officer, "I squirted vinegar," according to the Justice Department.
At the sentencing hearing, Kazmierczak apologized to Omar.
"I really apologize to her for having put her through that," he said, according to the Associated Press.
What sentence did he receive?
Kazmierczak pleaded guilty in May to one count of assaulting a United States officer.
In addition to the 14-month prison sentence, he will serve three years of supervised release and must have no contact with Omar.
His attorney told the court that Kazmierczak has Parkinson's disease and previous diagnoses of ADHD and a form of post-traumatic stress disorder, arguing he had not been taking mental health medications before the attack.
U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen said in a statement that political violence against elected officials is unacceptable and would not be tolerated.
Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at ajthompson@usatodayco.com, or on X @athompsonUSAT
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Man who sprayed Rep. Ilhan Omar gets prison sentence
