Chicago police and the FBI are investigating after multiple women allegedly snuck into a hotel and contaminated a dining hall meant to serve breakfast to some of the Democratic National Convention delegates with maggots and insects.
Staff members at the Fairmont Hotel, which is hosting delegates from Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio, Missouri, and South Dakota, reported that the incident happened at around 6:45 a.m. Wednesday.
“We can confirm that a group of individuals caused a disruption at a DNC-related breakfast event at our hotel this morning,” Fairmont Chicago hotel spokeswoman Haley Robles told WGN Investigates. “Our team acted immediately to clean and sanitize the area, ensuring that the event could continue without further incident.”
Authorities said the protesters appeared to have intentionally brought the insects into the breakfast to send a message to the delegates.
“Multiple unknown female offenders are alleged to have entered a building … and began placing unknown objects onto tables containing food,” a spokesperson for the convention’s information center said in a statement. “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.”
So far, no group has taken responsibility for the breakfast buffet contamination. However, a group of pro-Palestinian protesters pulled a similar stunt in July, releasing a hoard of maggots in the dining hall of the Watergate Hotel, where Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was staying.
“All Americans have the right to peaceful protest, but ugly attacks like this have no place in our democracy,” Indiana Democratic Party spokesman Sam Barloga said. “We thank the security team for responding swiftly.”
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
The DNC has been hit with a slew of security threats, including several bomb scares.
“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.