The FBI and Chicago police are investigating allegations that activists planted bugs in a breakfast buffet for delegates to the Democratic National Convention. The incident occurred around 6:45 a.m. Wednesday at the Fairmont Hotel in Chicago, where delegates from Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio, Missouri and South Dakota are staying. Indiana delegate Karen Tallian, a retired senator, said two women who were hiding in a bathroom “ran out and threw maggots into the breakfast buffet,” Tallian said. USA TodayOther witnesses described the beetles as crickets.
The Congressional Information Center said that “multiple unknown female perpetrators” allegedly placed “unknown items on tables containing food” before leaving the area, and that one victim was treated at the scene. “We can confirm that a group of individuals caused a disturbance at a DNC-related breakfast event,” Fairmont Chicago said in a statement, according to WGN. “Our team immediately acted to clean and disinfect the area so the event could continue without further incident.” A witness said all breakfast foods were replaced within an hour, according to USA Today.
Maggots and other bugs were similarly released at the Watergate Hotel in Washington, DC, last month while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was staying there. The Palestinian youth movement claimed the bugs were released in protest against Israel’s war against Hamas, according to CBS News. Multiple law enforcement sources say activists brought the bugs to the Fairmont Hotel, according to WGN. “All Americans have the right to peaceful protest, but ugly attacks like this have no place in our democracy,” Indiana Democratic Rep. Sam Barloga said, according to USA Today. “We thank the security team for their quick response.” (More stories from the Democratic National Convention.)
