Omar criticizes Trump’s ‘hateful rhetoric’ after attack; suspect had made pro-Trump posts online

By MICHAEL BIESECKER, FARNOUSH AMIRI, MATT BROWN and JACK BROOK, Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Democratic U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar blamed President Donald Trump for threats to her safety on Wednesday, one day after she was accosted and squirted with liquid at an event in Minneapolis.

The man arrested for Tuesday’s attack has posted online in support of the Republican president.

“Every time the president of the United States has chosen to use hateful rhetoric to talk about me and the community that I represent, my death threats skyrocket,” Omar said during a press conference. Asked if she was nervous about appearing in public, she said, “Fear and intimidation doesn’t work on me.”

The attack came during a perilous political moment in Minneapolis, where two people have been fatally shot by federal agents duri...