Protesters contaminate DNC breakfast with maggots at Chicago hotel: officials

CHICAGO - An investigation is underway after a group of protesters allegedly slipped maggots into food that was served during a Democratic National Convention delegate breakfast.

Along with Chicago police, FBI Chicago is assisting in the investigation into the stomach-turning discovery.

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.

According to DNC officials, one victim was treated by medical personnel and released at the scene; however, the extent of their exposure to the maggots is unknown. 

Crooks said hotel staff had a brand-new breakfast spread ready within 30 minutes of the incident occurring. 

The hotel, Fairmont Chicago, issued a statement in response to this incident, shared below: 

"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 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 property and have strict protocols in place to handle any disruptions."

Crooks said he was unbothered by the stunt.

"That’s some of the nonsense we’ve had to put up with, but this is not 1968, this is 2024 Chicago. We’re moving forward and we’ve got worse things to worry about than a bad breakfast with maggots. We’re trying to beat Donald Trump," said Crooks.

Just last month, a similar incident happened at the Watergate Hotel in Washington, D.C.,where pro-Palestinian activists released maggots and crickets to protest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit.  

It is unclear what group the offenders involved in Wednesday’s incident are affiliated with.

No arrests have been made and an ongoing investigation is underway.