A man charged with assaulting U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar at a town hall meeting will remain in custody, following a ruling from a federal judge on Tuesday.
Anthony Kazmierczak, 55, was charged last week with allegedly approaching Omar while she was speaking during a town hall and spraying her with liquid from a syringe. A lab analysis found it was likely apple cider vinegar, though that wasn’t known at the time of the incident.
Court documents allege that Kazmierczak has a history of social media posts critical of Omar.
In a hearing before a federal judge Tuesday, prosecutors with Minnesota’s U.S. Attorney’s Office argued that the attack on the congresswoman was dangerous, even if the liquid was unlikely to be harmful.
Kazmierczak’s attorney argued he should be released to a halfway house, and said he’s not getting his medical needs met in jail.
Judge David Schultz sided with prosecutors and ordered Kazmierczak to remain in custody.
“What was done is an exceedingly dangerous set of circumstances and is a danger to the community,” Schultz said.
Kazmierczak will return to the Sherburne County Jail, where his attorney said he’s being held in solitary confinement, due to publicity around his name and case.
Kazmierczak also faces state charges stemming from the town hall incident.