House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries slammed President Trump for speculating that Rep. Ilhan Omar staged an attack on herself by an assailant who sprayed an unknown substance at her during a town hall event.
The president told ABC News that Ms. Omar, Minnesota Democrat and Somali-American, “probably had herself sprayed, knowing her.”
Mr. Trump said he hadn’t seen the video, saying he doesn’t “think about her. I think she’s a fraud.”
Mr. Jeffries said the president’s comment was “disgusting [and] the president’s lies and misinformation continue to fan the flames of these types of violent incidents.”
“It’s at a moment like this where we actually need leadership from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and it’s something that we never get from this president,” Mr. Jeffries, New York Democrat, said on CNN Wednesday.
Ms. Omar was calling for the abolishment of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and for Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to resign Tuesday night, just before a man in the front row of the audience approached her and sprayed an unknown substance out of a syringe onto the congresswoman.
SEE ALSO: Man tackled after spraying unknown substance on Ilhan Omar at town hall in Minneapolis
An Associated Press reporter in the room said the substance had a vinegar-like smell. Photos of the syringe show a dark yellow, almost brown color liquid inside.
The man, identified as 55-year-old Anthony Kazmierczak, was tackled to the ground and pinned down. His arms were tied behind his back, and he was immediately arrested and booked for third-degree assault. Ms. Omar continued her event.
Ms. Omar said she was OK in a statement later that evening.
“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.”
