Republican Calls Out D.C. Crime After Staffer Attacked

Minnesota Republican Representative Brad Finstad called on crime in Washington, D.C., on Friday after a member of his staff was attacked near the U.S. Capitol Building.

"Following Wednesday's Congressional Baseball Game for Charity, one of my staffers was attacked outside of his residence by an armed gunman," Finstad said in a statement. "In Washington, D.C. and cities across the country, anti-police, soft-on-crime policies have created lawless societies that endanger the public and empower criminal behavior. It's time we started treating criminals like criminals and bring back commonsense policies that imprison career criminals, keep the public safe, and allow our police officers to adequately protect our communities and keep violent criminals off the streets."

The statement also noted that the staff member, who was not named in the announcement, is expected to make a full recovery and he suffered "minor" injuries.

Crime in Washington, D.C.

According to data from the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Department, all crime in the city has increased over the past year. Violent crime overall has increased by 21 percent, the data shows.

The data shows crime as of June 16 and includes increases in homicide, assault with a dangerous weapon, sex abuse, robbery and motor vehicle theft.

In 2022, however, Washington D.C. saw a 7 percent decrease in violent crime when compared to 2021, according to statistics from the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department.

According to a Washington D.C. Metro Police report, which was obtained by Newsweek, the staff member was walking home when he was approached by two males wearing hoodies that pushed the staffer to the ground and pointed a gun at him. The staffer was able to run away from the two men, the report said.

In a seemingly unrelated attack in February, Minnesota Democratic Representative Angie Craig was attacked in an elevator inside her own D.C. apartment building.

"This morning around 7:15 a.m., Rep. Craig was assaulted in the elevator of her apartment building in Washington DC. Rep. Craig defended herself from the attacker and suffered bruising, but is otherwise physically okay," Craig's chief of staff Nick Coe said in a statement. "Rep. Craig called 9-1-1 and the assailant fled the scene of the assault."

In another statement, Craig said, "On a serious note, I will also say that I was very, very lucky that I was not more injured – and I'll have more to say about that soon...I remain deeply grateful to the law enforcement officers for their quick response and subsequent arrest of a suspect last night."

The Washington D.C. Metro Police announced in February that 26-year-old Kendrick Hamlin or Hamlin Khalil Hamlin was arrested for the assault of Craig.

"Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department's First District 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," police said, adding that the suspect was charged with simple assault.

In June, the suspect accused of attacking Craig pled guilty in federal court.

Update 06/16/23 4:32 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.