US man who sprayed Omar with vinegar sentenced to 14 months — The Hill
In Minneapolis, United States, 55-year-old Anthony Kazmerchak was sentenced to 14 months in prison for assaulting Minnesota Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar. In January, the man sprayed her with apple cider vinegar during the politician’s meeting with constituents.
As The Hill reports, Kazmerchak pleaded guilty in May as part of an agreement with prosecutors. He received the maximum sentence on the federal charge of assaulting a US official. The court also sentenced him to three years of supervised release and barred him from contacting Omar.
Details of the attack
A video livestream of the event shows the man standing up and beginning to shout at Omar, who was speaking at a podium. He demanded that former US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem resign or face impeachment over her actions in connection with the Minneapolis shooting. Kazmerchak then sprayed the congresswoman with liquid, after which he was taken down to the floor.
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Court ruling
Prosecutors requested a prison sentence of between eight and 14 months, citing the defendant’s guilty plea and previous contacts with law enforcement. Minnesota court records show that Kazmerchak was convicted in 1989 of a felony related to car theft and was also repeatedly detained for driving under the influence.
US District Judge Joan N. Ericksen said the attack was not spontaneous because the defendant had purchased tickets for the event several weeks before the incident. According to the FBI, in the weeks before the event, he searched online for information about Omar, her private security’s safety measures, bail bond companies, GoFundMe fundraising, and possible charges for assaulting an official. Separate proceedings against Kazmerchak are ongoing in state court.
