The Case of the Minneapolis, Minnesota Democrat, When Craig Harris was Stripped by a Rep. Craig Harris in the Elevator on Thursday
The Minnesota Democrat was riding in the elevator of her apartment building in Washington, DC on Thursday morning when she was hit, according to her chief of staff.
The attacker did not appear to have political motivations, according to Craig’s office, but it’s the latest in a string of violence against elected officials and their families, raising questions about the safety of serving in office.
“The vice president called to check in on Rep. Craig and wish her well,” a source familiar with the call said. Harris told Craig to take care of herself, even though she has been through trauma.
The House Democratic Caucus family is horrified by what happened, said Hakeem Jeffries in a statement. We are all very happy that she is alive and well, but we were appalled that this attack took place.
Jeffries said that he has asked the House sergeant at arms and the US Capitol Police to work “to ensure that Angie and her family are safe while in our nation’s capital and at home in Minnesota.”
Capitol Police investigated 7,501 threats against members of Congress last year, a slight decrease from the number in 2020 and 2021 — but U.S. Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger says the number is “still too high.”
A Minneapolis man suspected of acting erratic assailant becomes a Capitol Police employee and threatens to sue lawmakers in 2021
Police say the suspected assailant, 26-year-old Kendrick Hamlin, is in custody, charged with simple assault. The attack did not appear to have been politically motivated, said Nick Coe, Craig’s chief of staff.
According to the police report, Craig spotted her assailant in the lobby of her apartment complex around 7:10 a.m. The man was “acting erratic as if he was under the influence of an unknown substance,” Craig told police.
The basement-level parking garage was searched after the attacker was not found. A bulletin asking for public tips on his location offered a $1,000 reward.
Craig, 50, is serving her third term in Congress, representing Minnesota’s 2nd Congressional District, just south of Minneapolis. She serves as co-chairwoman of the Congressional Equality Caucus.
Fellow Minnesota Democrat, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, tweeted about the incident on Thursday, saying Craig wasn’t deterred from attending a meeting about her district.
Capitol Police does not discuss its security measures against members of congress due to security reasons.
The Senate overwhelmingly voted in favor of approving a $2.1 billion funding package for Capitol Police in 2021 following the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.