CHICAGO — The Chicago Police and the FBI are investigating how maggots ended up in the breakfast food at a Democratic National Committee event held at a downtown hotel Wednesday.
According to Chicago Police, “unknown female offenders” snuck into the Fairmont Chicago Hotel, where several delegations are staying, “and began placing unknown objects on tables containing food” at a DNC breakfast event.
The objects appeared to be maggots, according to witnesses. While it’s not known whether the women were connected to the anti-Israeli protesters gathered in the city, it’s a tactic that has been used by the group in the past.
According to the police, the FBI is investigating and arrived on the scene Wednesday morning.
Delegates from Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio, Missouri and South Dakota are staying at the Fairmont and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg spoke at a morning event, but it is unknown whether he was impacted by the maggots.
According to WGNTV, law enforcement sources said they believe the maggots were brought into the hotel “by activists seeking to send a message.”
In July, anti-Israel activists dropped maggots on floors and tables in the Watergate Hotel in Washington D.C., where Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was staying when he came to address a joint session of Congress.
The activists planned major demonstrations for the DNC. They have largely been contained so far and kept away from the convention site. Several protesters have been arrested and a handful of police have been injured by protest violence.
An official from the hotel told The Washington Times “a group of individuals caused a disruption” at the DNC event.
“The safety, security, and well-being of our guests and staff are our top priorities. 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 hotel and have strict protocols in place to handle disruptions,” the official said in a statement.
• Susan Ferrechio can be reached at sferrechio@washingtontimes.com.
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