Man who sprayed vinegar on Rep. Ilhan Omar sentenced to 14 months in prison

Sarah Nelson, The Minnesota Star Tribune on Sep 17, 2026

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MINNEAPOLIS — A man who sprayed vinegar on Rep. Ilhan Omar while she spoke at a town hall in north Minneapolis has been sentenced to just over one year in federal prison.

Anthony James Kazmierczak, 56, pleaded guilty to assaulting a United States officer during the public event on Jan. 27 at the Urban League headquarters. His prison term will be followed by two years on supervised release and the requirement that he have no contact with the congresswoman. Omar was not present at the sentencing.

The sentence matches the 14-month prison term sought by federal prosecutors. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Bejar argued in a memo prior to sentencing that Kazmierczak’s actions placed the congresswoman and town hall attendees in fear of bodily harm, a concern that was “quite reasonable” when accounting for the spate of political violence in Minnesota and across the country in the past year.

Bejar wrote: “But for the mostly benign liquid he squirted on Rep. Omar, the result of his crime could have been significantly worse.”

In court, Bejar said the 14-month sentence is necessary to send a message that “this type of resort to violence because of political differences cannot be tolerated.”

Kazmierczak’s attorney John Fossum countered the government’s argument by reiterating that his client sprayed a common household substance.

“Not firearms, not dangerous liquids: A harmless kitchen substance,” Fossum said.

Witnesses said Omar was calling for the abolishment of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the resignation of then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem just before the incident.

Kazmierczak, who was sitting in the front row, stood up and quickly approached Omar. He then sprayed the vinegar from a small syringe and shouted: “She’s not resigning. You’re splitting Minnesotans apart.” Kazmierczak was tackled to the ground by a security officer and arrested. He has remained jailed since.

An FBI investigation revealed Kazmierczak had planned to do something at the town hall for weeks and sent vague texts to his friends to that effect in the days leading up to the event. A search of his computer later revealed online searches for Omar, apple cider vinegar and potential charges for assaulting a public official.

Kazmierczak apologized as he addressed the judge before receiving his sentence.

“I didnt do this specifically to hurt her,” he said.

Fossum said his client was between medications at the time of the town hall, resulting in lower inhibitions.

Kazmierczak has long struggled with alcohol, has a history of mental and emotional health concerns and health issues following a 2022 diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease, according to court records.

“I think this was a mistake he made, a bad choice he made. And eight months in custody has been sufficient and more than that would be greater than necessary,” Fossum said.

U.S. District Judge Joan Ericksen rejected that argument and sentenced Kazmierczak to the full 14 months in prison, a term that fell within the recommended federal sentencing guidelines, which she suggested was modest considering the facts of the case.

“An attack on a public figure is not a political statement. It is misguided, selfish, inconsistent with any concept of a free or democratic society,” she said.

Kazmierczak also faces charges in state court to include one felony count of threats of violence and misdemeanor fifth-degree assault.

“Our office will review Mr. Kazmierczak’s federal case and plea, communicate with the victims, and decide on an appropriate path forward,” said Daniel Borgertpoepping, a spokesperson for the Hennepin County attorney’s office.

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