Authorities including the Chicago Police and the FBI are now investigating an alleged insect attack that occurred at a buffet breakfast attended by delegates near the DNC in Chicago on Wednesday.
This DNC delegate sabotage comes in the context of recent ongoing protests outside the conference, and a previous insect attack last month at the Water Gate Hotel in Washington DC.
DNC Statement
A statement from the DNC’s information center asserted that the insects were delivered to the food directly, in what seems like a deliberate act.
“Multiple unknown female offenders are alleged to have entered a building…and began placing unknown objects onto tables containing food,” said the statement.
Confirming the Investigation
In their statement, the DNC confirmed that an investigation is ongoing after the alleged perpetrators left the area.
“The offenders are believed to have then left the area. One victim was treated and released on-scene. Along with CPD, FBI-Chicago is assisting in the investigation,” the statement said.
Bug Incident
The bug breakfast attack occurred at a Fairmont Hotel which is accommodating DNC delegates from Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio, Missouri, and South Dakota.
Reports vary on the type of insect involved in the attack. Some witnesses have described them as crickets, but other reports have suggested they may have been maggots.
Hiding in Wait
One witness described what they observed about the perpetrators to USA Today.
“We were all coming down to breakfast, and there were these two women who had hidden themselves in the bathroom,” Indiana delegate Karen Tallian said. “And they ran out and threw maggots into the breakfast buffet.”
Hotel Staff Protection
As the incident was underway, witnesses described the hotel staff leaping into action to protect people from the insects.
“They protected us, of course, and turned it around in minutes,” said Indiana delegate Tracy Boyd who is at the convention representing the Indianapolis region. “I really do want to give a shout-out to the hotel staff and leadership.”
Hotel’s Response
An official statement by Fairmont Chicago officials confirmed the incident, which was reported to have occurred around 6:45 am.
“We can confirm that a group of individuals caused a disruption at a DNC-related breakfast event at our hotel this morning. We are grateful for the swift response of law enforcement,” the statement said.
Quick Action
According to Indiana State representative Carolyn Jackson, “there was all new food out” by the time she had gone for breakfast at 7:45 am.
“Our team acted immediately to clean and sanitize the area, ensuring that the event could continue without further incident. We maintain the highest standards of food safety and cleanliness throughout our property and have strict protocols in place to handle any disruptions,” said the Fairmont statement.
Claiming Responsibility
So far, no group or individuals have come out to claim responsibility for the insect attack, but this action comes as pressure from protestors has descended on the conference.
This week, large groups of protestors have marched on the Chicago DNC, clashing with police in skirmishes that have led to several arrests.
Previous Actions
One of the targets of the recent protests was a nearby Israeli Consulate in Chicago that saw protest groups give speeches and defy police dispersal orders.
Last month, a bug attack was carried out at the Water Gate Hotel in Washington DC when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was visiting.
Disruption Attempts
This latest effort to disrupt the convention is only one of several being watched by authorities as bomb threats have also been issued against hotels housing DNC delegates.
“We ran out every single threat yesterday and they are continuing to come in today,” Derek Mayer, the deputy Secret Service special agent in charge, said at a Wednesday morning briefing.
No Place in Democracy
Sam Barloga, an Indiana Democratic Party spokesperson spoke out against the attack, feeling that it was not an appropriate way to protest.
“All Americans have the right to peaceful protest, but ugly attacks like this have no place in our democracy,” Barloga said. “We thank the security team for responding swiftly.”
