MINNEAPOLIS — Anthony Kazmierczak, the 56-year-old man who sprayed a mixture of water and apple cider vinegar at U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar during a Minneapolis town hall in January, has been sentenced to 14 months in federal prison.

Kazmierczak was sentenced Thursday after reaching a deal with federal prosecutors. He will also serve three years of supervised release and is prohibited from contacting Omar. U.S. marshals escorted him from the courtroom following the hearing.

The incident occurred on January 27 during a town hall meeting in Minneapolis. Witnesses said Kazmierczak suddenly stood up from the audience and sprayed liquid from a syringe toward Omar while accusing her of “splitting Minnesota apart.”

Omar’s security personnel quickly restrained him and turned him over to police. Omar was not injured and continued with the town hall after the incident. Authorities later determined that the liquid was a mixture of water and apple cider vinegar. Kazmierczak subsequently pleaded guilty to assaulting a U.S. officer.

During sentencing, U.S. District Judge Joan N. Ericksen said the incident was not spontaneous, noting that Kazmierczak had obtained tickets to the town hall weeks before the attack.

Prosecutors also presented evidence that Kazmierczak had sent messages to at least three people before the event indicating that he intended to do something involving Omar. He also contacted a neighbor about taking care of his dog and sought information about a bail bond company.

Kazmierczak apologized to Omar during the hearing. In an earlier message sent after the incident, he had also written that he was sorry if he had frightened her. His attorney argued that his struggles with alcohol and other personal and health issues had contributed to the incident.

The attack occurred during a period of heightened tensions in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area surrounding Operation Metro Surge, a major federal immigration enforcement operation that prompted protests and arrests.

The sentence brings the federal criminal case against Kazmierczak to its sentencing stage. He will serve the 14-month prison term followed by three years of supervised release, including the no-contact order involving Omar.

Source: Associated Press, September 17, 2026; MPR News.