The man accused of squirting an unknown substance on Democratic U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar during a town hall event in Minneapolis has a lengthy criminal history and has posted online content supportive of President Trump, according to court records and media reports.
Anthony Kazmierczak, 55, was convicted of felony auto theft in 1989 and has been arrested multiple times for driving under the influence, along with receiving numerous traffic citations, Minnesota court records show. The Associated Press also reports that Kazmierczak has experienced significant financial difficulties, including filing for bankruptcy twice.
The New York Times reports that Kazmierczak’s first DUI arrest occurred just days after his wife filed for divorce in 2009. He remarried in 2013, but that marriage ended four years later.
Police say Kazmierczak used a syringe to squirt liquid on Omar during Tuesday’s event after the congresswoman called for the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and for 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. He was jailed on a preliminary third-degree assault charge, according to police spokesperson Trevor Folke.
In social media posts, Kazmierczak described himself as a former network engineer living in Minneapolis, the AP reports. His posts included criticism of Joe Biden and references to Democrats as “angry” and “liars.”
Kazmierczak’s mother, Merrikay Olson Baxendale, told the Times that her son suffers from depression and Parkinson’s disease. She said he was raised in a conservative household and may have become increasingly frustrated that many of his friends do not share his political views.
A neighbor told CNN that Kazmierczak asked him to watch his dog while he attended the town hall because he “might get arrested.” The neighbor said he assumed Kazmierczak might “say something stupid” but did not believe he would attempt to attack Omar.
President Trump, who has frequently criticized Omar and mentioned her in a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos last week, commented Wednesday that he “doesn’t think” about her and suggested that “she probably had herself sprayed.”