Topline
Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) was carjacked by three armed assailants on Monday night outside a building near Capitol Hill in Washington D.C., where several other members of Congress reside.
Rep. Henry Cuellar, (D-Texas) is seen outside a meeting of the House Democratic Caucus in the U.S. … [+]
Key Facts
Cuellar was “parking his car” when the armed individuals approached him and stole the vehicle, the lawmaker’s chief of staff Jacob Hochberg said in a statement to the press.
Cuellar was unharmed in the incident and police managed to recover the vehicle, Hochberg added.
The incident took place at around 9.30 p.m. local time in D.C.’s Navy Yard neighborhood, located only a mile away from Capitol Hill, the New York Times reported.
According to Axios the apartment outside which the incident took place houses “dozens” of other lawmakers and has “Capitol Police presence.”
The carjacking is being investigated by the D.C. Metropolitan Police and Capitol Police, although it is unclear if any arrests have been made so far.
Cuellar is yet to comment on the matter.
Tangent
The carjacking is the second instance of a lawmaker being targeted by criminals in the national capital this year. In February, Rep. Angie Craig (D., Minn.) was attacked inside the elevator of her apartment building, also located near Capitol Hill. Craig fought back against her assailant and managed to escape with bruises while avoiding any major injuries. In June, a 26-year-old man pleaded guilty to the attack.
Further Reading
Rep. Cuellar’s Vehicle Was Stolen After He Was Held at Gunpoint (New York Times)