Judge denies release of man who allegedly sprayed Ilhan Omar with the midterms

WASHINGTON (TNND) — A federal judge ruled Tuesday that the man who allegedly sprayed Minnesota Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar with vinegar during a town hall will not be released.

Last month, Anthony Kazmierczak, 55, was tackled to the ground during a town hall Omar was hosting in Minneapolis after he sprayed something at her.

“Here’s the reality that people like this ugly man don’t understand; we are Minnesota strong and we will stay resilient in the face of whatever they might throw at us,” Omar said after the man was escorted away.

At first, it wasn’t clear what Kazmierczak sprayed on Omar, but it was later revealed to be vinegar.

Kazmierczak appeared before Judge David T. Schultz on Tuesday and requested to be released from federal custody, but was denied, according to The Hill newspaper.

Following the incident, Omar said she wouldn’t be intimidated.

“I’m ok. I’m a survivor so this small agitator isn’t going to intimidate me from doing my work,” she wrote on the social media platform, X.

“I don’t let bullies win. Grateful to my incredible constituents who rallied behind me. Minnesota strong.”

According to a criminal complaint about Kazmierczak, he had also made threatening comments in reference to Omar and even suggested she should be killed.