Chicago Police and the FBI are investigating an incident where maggots were allegedly placed into a breakfast served to delegates attending the Democratic National Convention.
“Chicago police officers and Illinois state troopers gathered in the lobby of the Fairmont Hotel near meeting rooms,” WGN-TV wrote.
FBI-Chicago is assisting with the investigation.
It’s believed activists possibly brought maggots into the hotel.
JUST IN: FBI investigating after maggots found in DNC breakfast in Chicago
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) August 21, 2024
WGN-TV reports:
An FBI evidence response team van was parked outside the hotel Wednesday morning.
“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 spokesperson Haley Robles told WGN Investigates this morning. “Our team acted immediately to clean and sanitize the area, ensuring that the event could continue without further incident.”
Multiple law enforcement sources say it appears the maggots were brought into the hotel by activists seeking to send a message. “All Americans have the right to peaceful protest, but ugly attacks like this have no place in our democracy,” said Indiana Democratic Party spokesperson Sam Barloga. “We thank the security team for responding swiftly.”
“The Fairmont hotel is hosting Democratic delegates from Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio, Missouri and South Dakota,” WGN-TV noted.
FBI investigates Democrats having maggots slipped into their breakfasts at Chicago convention https://t.co/XVaEkKEhpP pic.twitter.com/PVSAEhjdkS
— Daily Mail US (@DailyMail) August 21, 2024
New — The @FBI is investigating after DNC delegates had their food contaminated with maggots at a Chicago hotel.
Police said activists entered the hotel and contaminated the delegates' breakfast with maggots. https://t.co/3FCukTeAKN
— Katie Daviscourt 📸 (@KatieDaviscourt) August 21, 2024
Per FOX 5 DC:
The incident happened at 6:45 a.m. Wednesday the Fairmont Chicago – Millenium Park hotel, located in the 200 block of N. Columbus Drive, as Indiana delegates were getting ready to tackle the third day of the convention.
It also unfolded as U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg was preparing to address delegates at the luxury hotel.
As a buffet-style breakfast was being served in a meeting room, DNC officials confirmed that multiple unknown female suspects entered the hotel and placed “unknown objects” into the food before leaving the area.
Dave Crooks, a former member of the Indiana House of Representatives and current Indiana 8th District Democratic Party chairman, said the unsettling disruption initially went largely unnoticed.
“Didn’t even see any issues. I just went and grabbed my plate, got my coffee and then 30 minutes later, when the State Chairman Michael Schmuhl introduced Pete Buttigieg, he at least informed us that apparently sometime right around 7, when the food was actually laid out, some protesters showed up and apparently they dumped maggots all over the food,” said Crooks. “The hotel staff did an incredible job, it was removed, everything was cleaned, and they prepared new food.”
Crooks said no one consumed any of the maggot-filled food.
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