Man held in attack on Rep. Omar made pro-Trump posts

MINNEAPOLIS The man accused of squirting an unknown substance on Democratic U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar at a town hall in Minneapolis has a criminal history and has made online posts supportive of President Trump.

- BY MICHAEL BIESECKER AND LAURA BARGFELD

OFFICERS subdue Anthony Kazmierczak, 55, at Rep. Ilhan Omar's town hall.

ANGELINA KATSANIS Bloomberg

Anthony Kazmierczak, 55, was convicted of felony auto theft in 1989, has been arrested multiple times on suspicion of driving under the influence and has had numerous traffic citations, Minnesota court records show. There are also indications he has had significant financial problems, including two bankruptcy filings.

Police say Kazmierczak used a syringe to squirt liquid on Omar during Tuesday's event after she called for the abolishment of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the firing or impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem following the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Officers immediately tackled and arrested Kazmierczak, who was jailed on a preliminary third-degree assault charge, police spokesperson Trevor Folke said.

Photos of the syringe, which fell when the man was tackled, show what appears to be a light-brown liquid inside. Authorities haven't publicly identified the substance.

After the attack, there was a strong, vinegar-like smell in the room, according to an Associated Press journalist who was there. Forensic scientists were called in, but none of the roughly 100 people who were there had a noticeable physical reaction to the substance.