The US Department of Justice (DOJ) charged a man on Thursday with “forcibly assaulting and interfering with” Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar at a town hall in North Minneapolis.

The defendant, Anthony James Kazmierczak, appeared in front of a US District Court in the District of Minnesota following a complaint filed by US Attorney Daniel N. Rosen. He will be held in custody awaiting a detention hearing and a preliminary hearing on February 3. These hearings will determine whether Kazmierczak can be released pending trial, and if a felony indictment can be sought. Capitol Police are also reportedly considering federal charges against him for assaulting a member of Congress.

The incident occurred while Rep. Omar (D-MN) was speaking at a town hall on Tuesday. In her speech, she called for the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and for Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem to resign or face impeachment—at which point Kazmierczak approached her and sprayed her with a syringe of what was reported to be apple cider vinegar. He was then apprehended by security officers. Rep. Omar later released a statement saying that she had not been harmed and continued with the town hall, as “she doesn’t let bullies win.”

Rosen stated: “Assaultive behavior and acts of intimidation directed at officers and employers of the United States will not be tolerated.” According to ABC Senior Political Correspondent Rachel Scott, President Donald Trump said that he had not seen the video of the attack but called Omar “a fraud” who “probably had herself sprayed, knowing her.” In response, Rep. Omar linked his “hateful rhetoric” against her and her Minnesota Somali community to a rise in death threats, and said it was “ironic that…he was on stage moments before I was attacked, talking about me.”

The attack happened in the context of significant tensions over ICE’s presence in Minnesota for Operation Metro Surge, an enforcement initiative to deport illegal immigrants that sent 3,000 federal agents to Minneapolis and Saint Paul in December 2025. The killings of civilians Renee Good and Alex Pretti by ICE officers in January have provoked demonstrations across the US, as well as legal action against the Trump administration.