A man has pleaded guilty to assaulting US Representative Ilhan Omar during a town hall event in Minneapolis in January. Anthony James Kazmierczak, 55, admitted to one count of assaulting a United States officer in federal court.
Kazmierczak sprayed Omar with apple cider vinegar from a syringe, which landed on her clothing and skin. Lab analysis confirmed the liquid contained acetic acid. Omar was uninjured in the attack.
During the hearing, Kazmierczak acknowledged that he planned the assault and disagreed with Omar's political views. The incident occurred while Omar was criticising US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for its crackdown in Minnesota and the fatal shootings of two US citizens by federal agents.
Omar, a Muslim who came to the US as a child and became a citizen in 2000, has been a frequent target of President Donald Trump's public remarks. The town hall was temporarily disrupted, but Omar later continued her speech.
