WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Angie Craig was assaulted in the elevator of her apartment building on Thursday morning, repelling her attacker by throwing hot coffee at him, authorities said.
Craig, D-Minn., 50, suffered bruises but escaped serious injury in an attack that did not appear to be politically motivated, according to her chief of staff.
Update 10:14 p.m. EST Feb. 9: Police in Washington, D.C., arrested Kendrick Hamlin, 26, also known as Hamlin Khalil Hamlin, on charges of simple assault, WUSA-TV reported.
MPD announces an arrest has been made in reference to a Simple Assault offense that occurred Thursday, February 9, 2023, in the 300 block of H Street, Northeast.
— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) February 10, 2023
Thank you to all who assisted in making DC safer with this arrest!
Release: https://t.co/93l7psN3iS pic.twitter.com/ksV9gZAvSI
Original report: Nick Coe said in a statement that Craig, 50, who has served as a U.S. representative from Minnesota’s 2nd congressional district since 2019, was attacked at about 7:15 a.m. EST, KSTP-TV reported.
Statement by Rep. Angie Craig's Chief of Staff: pic.twitter.com/YHXKJkuK42
— Angie Craig (@RepAngieCraig) February 9, 2023
“Rep. Craig defended herself from the attacker and suffered bruising, but is otherwise physically OK,” Coe said in a statement.
Craig called 911 but the assailant fled the scene, The Washington Post reported. She later went to the Capitol, where she cast three votes during the day’s session, according to the newspaper.
“Angie is tough as nails -- she immediately got back to work and voted on the House floor,” Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz tweeted. “I’m glad to have met with her this morning and hear she’s doing well.”
Walz was in Washington this week, the Star Tribune of Minneapolis reported.
According to a report from the District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department, Craig told the man “Good morning” and entered the elevator, the Post reported.
She said the man followed her onto the elevator “and began to randomly do pushups,” the report stated.
Angie is tough as nails — she immediately got back to work and voted on the House floor. I’m glad to have met with her this morning and hear she’s doing well. https://t.co/i0lljgQE4P
— Governor Tim Walz (@GovTimWalz) February 9, 2023
According to the police report, the man punched Craig with a closed fist on the chin and grabbed her by the neck. That is when she threw the coffee on her assailant, who fled.
D.C. police spokesperson Dustin Sternbeck confirmed that an assault occurred in an apartment building in the Northeast section of Washington, the Post reported.
No arrest has been made.
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