Rep. Angie Craig Safe After Assault in DC Apartment Building
Minnesota Congresswoman Angie Craig is safe and recovering after being assaulted in the elevator of her Washington, D.C. apartment building Thursday morning.[0] Craig’s Chief of Staff, Nick Coe, said the congresswoman suffered bruising but is otherwise physically okay.[1]
According to a police report, the alleged assailant was in the lobby of Craig’s apartment building, “acting erratic as if he was under the influence of an unknown substance.”[2] He then followed Craig into the elevator, where he began to do push-ups before punching her in the chin and grabbing her neck.[3] Craig defended herself by throwing her hot coffee at him, and the man then escaped.[2]
Police have since arrested Kendrick Hamlin, 26, also known as Hamlin Khalil Hamlin, and charged him with simple assault.[4] Police said he has no fixed address.[5]
On Thursday, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) expressed that the caucus was horrified by the attack on Craig in a statement.[6] He asked the House Sergeant at Arms and the US Capitol Police to work with Craig and her family to keep them safe both in Washington, D.C., and Minnesota.[6]
The US Capitol Police said there is no information that the Congresswoman was targeted because of her position, however the case is still under investigation by both the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and the US Capitol Police (USCP).[7]
Given the January 6th, 2021 breach of the U.S. Capitol and the more recent attack on former Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband with a hammer, this incident has increased worries about the security of legislators and their families.[2]
US Senator Amy Klobuchar tweeted: “To give you a sense of how strong @AngieCraigMN is, she went straight to the Hill this morning and attended a meeting in the Senate with the Governor and me and several members of our delegation about legislation for the people of her district. No one messes with Angie.”[8]
The attack could revive calls to beef up spending on personal security for lawmakers.[9] Generally, it has been reported by lawmakers that public harassment has increased in recent years.[9]
0. “Minnesota Rep. Angie Craig assaulted in DC elevator: Office” NewsNation Now, 9 Feb. 2023, https://www.newsnationnow.com/politics/angie-craig-assault/
1. “Rep. Angie Craig attacked in her D.C. apartment building” Yahoo! Voices, 10 Feb. 2023, https://www.yahoo.com/now/rep-angie-craig-attacked-her-221001196.html
2. “Arrest made in connection with assault of Rep. Angie Craig in Washington, DC” KARE11.com, 9 Feb. 2023, https://www.kare11.com/article/news/politics/minnesota-rep-angie-craig-assaulted-washington-dc/89-6749f48f-0af2-492e-9f8c-2851bdf0c3b7
3. “D.C. cops arrest man in attack on Rep. Angie Craig” MPR News, 9 Feb. 2023, https://www.mprnews.org/story/2023/02/09/rep-craig-assaulted-in-her-dc-apartment-building-physically-ok
4. “US Rep. Angie Craig assaulted in DC elevator; suspect arrested” FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul, 9 Feb. 2023, https://www.fox9.com/news/us-rep-angie-craig-assaulted-in-dc-elevator
5. “Minnesota Rep. Angie Craig assaulted in D.C. apartment building” The Washington Post, 9 Feb. 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/02/09/angie-craig-assault-washington-congress
6. “Minnesota Rep. Angie Craig assaulted in apartment elevator” Roll Call , 9 Feb. 2023, https://www.rollcall.com/2023/02/09/minnesota-rep-angie-craig-assaulted-in-apartment-elevator
7. “Rep. Angie Craig assaulted in DC elevator, police investigating” KSTP, 10 Feb. 2023, https://kstp.com/kstp-news/top-news/staff-says-minnesota-rep-angie-craig-assaulted-in-dc-elevator/
8. “Rep. Angie Craig attacked in her D.C. apartment building; suspect arrested” UPI News, 10 Feb. 2023, https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2023/02/09/angie-craig-attacked-dc-apartment/8741675971858
9. “Minnesota Dem reports attack at her D.C. apartment building” Yahoo News, 9 Feb. 2023, https://news.yahoo.com/minnesota-dem-reports-attack-her-183624731.html
