Rep. Angie Craig Punched By Attacker, Threw Coffee In His Face: Police

WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Rep. Angie Craig was attacked Thursday morning in the elevator of her apartment building, according to her office, which said the assault does not appear to have been political. Her assailant initially escaped but was arrested later the same day, police said.

The incident occurred around 7:15 a.m. at the Democratic congresswoman's District of Columbia residence, according to a news release from her office.

"Craig defended herself from the attacker and suffered bruising, but is otherwise physically okay," her chief of staff, Nick Coe, said in the news release.

Craig called 911, but the assailant fled the scene, according to her office. Later Thursday, police arrested 26-year-old Kendrick Hamlin (also known as Hamlin Khalil Hamlin) on a charge of simple assault, authorities said.

“There is no evidence that the incident was politically motivated," Coe said. “Rep. Craig is grateful to the DC Metropolitan Police Department for their quick response and asks for privacy at this time.”

Craig initially saw Hamlin in the lobby of the building, where he was acting erratically, as if under the influence, according to police, who added Craig said "good morning" to Hamlin, entered the elevator and was followed by the man. Hamlin "began to randomly do push ups," the police report said, punched Craig in the chin with a closed fist and grabbed her neck.

Craig then threw her hot coffee in Hamlin's face and he fled, according to police, who said they searched the building's basement parking lot but did not find Craig's attacker.

The chair of the state Democratic party called Thursday for political leaders to speak out against violence.

“While we do not know the motivations of the attacker, I believe it is important for leaders on both sides of the aisle to step up and make it clear that political violence of any kind is completely unacceptable,” Chairman Ken Martin said in a prepared statement.

Craig, who became a congresswoman in 2019, represents Minnesota's Second Congressional District, which stretches from the southern Twin Cities suburbs southwest to rural Le Sueur County. She was present for Thursday's House votes, according to roll call records.

"We are saddened to hear that Congresswoman Craig was assaulted this morning," Minnesota Republican Party Chairman David Hann said in a prepared statement. "We wish her and her family well as she recovers and hope that her attacker is swiftly brought to justice."

Thursday's assault follows an October attack on Paul Pelosi, husband of then-speaker of the House U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, at the couple's San Francisco home. In that case, the assailant, who believed the discredited conspiracy that Democrats stole the 2020 election from former president Donald Trump, was looking for Nancy Pelosi and told police he was going after her for lying to the American public.

In June, an armed man was arrested near the home of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh after threatening to kill the federal judge, citing strong feelings about a leaked draft opinion detailing the court's intention to overturn Roe v. Wade as well as the Uvalde school shooting.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.