The man arrested for attacking Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar has a criminal history and is a Trump supporter, according to his posts online.
Anthony Kazmierczak, 55, was arrested after the incident Tuesday, when he squirted a liquid out of a syringe at Ms. Omar while at a town hall event in Minneapolis.
He was convicted of felony auto theft in 1989 and has multiple arrests for driving under the influence, along with a list of traffic citations, court filings showed. He also filed for bankruptcy twice.
Some of his posts on social media, where he goes by Andy, were critical of former President Biden and other Democrats.
“Trump wants the US stronger and more prosperous,” Mr. Kazmierczak wrote on social media, according to The Associated Press. “Stop other countries from stealing from us. Bring back the fear that enemies back away from and gain respect that if anyone threatens ourselves or friends we will (expletive) them up.”
The Washington Times has not independently reviewed the social media posts.
A neighbor of Mr. Kazmierczak told the New York Post that he had gotten texts from him asking if he could watch his dog while he went to Ms. Omar’s event.
“He said, ’I’m going to this Omar thing.’ I’m like, ’Omar what?’ He said, ’This town hall thing.’ And he said, ’I might get arrested,’” neighbor Brian Kelley told the Post.
“I figured it was nonsense. He wasn’t going to do anything stupid. I said, ’Sure, I’ll walk her.’ But then the next day he said, ’Don’t worry about it, I’ve got it covered.’ I figured he blew that off,” he said.
Mr. Kelley said Mr. Kazmierczak has been “heavily medicated” since a car wreck years ago that affected his spine and has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
He said he couldn’t “imagine [Mr. Kazmierczak] assaulting or spraying somebody.”
Ms. Omar was calling for the abolishment of ICE and for Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to resign before the man sprayed the liquid on her.
The congresswoman continued her event and said in a statement later she was OK.
“I’m a survivor, so this small agitator isn’t going to intimidate me from doing my work. I don’t let bullies win,” she said. “Grateful to my incredible constituents who rallied behind me. Minnesota strong.”
• This story is based in part on wire service reports.
