U.S. Representative Henry Cuellar of Texas found himself targeted by three armed assailants in a carjacking incident that occurred on Monday night, according to his office.
Cuellar’s chief of staff, Jacob Hochberg, released a statement detailing the incident: “As Congressman Cuellar was parking his car this evening, three armed assailants approached the Congressman and stole his vehicle. Fortunately, he emerged unharmed and is collaborating with local law enforcement.”
Hochberg added that the police successfully recovered Cuellar’s stolen vehicle.
The incident took place at approximately 9:30 p.m. at the intersection of New Jersey Avenue and K Street SE in Washington’s Navy Yard area, located about a mile from the U.S. Capitol, as reported by The Washington Post.
Monday’s occurrence marked the second assault on a member of Congress within the District of Columbia this year. In February, Democratic Representative Angie Craig of Minnesota endured an assault in her Washington apartment building, resulting in bruises but no serious injuries. Her chief of staff indicated that the attack did not appear to be politically motivated.
In June, Kendrid Khalil Hamlin, 26, pleaded guilty in the aforementioned case to charges of assaulting a member of Congress and assaulting law enforcement officers. Hamlin was also accused of assaulting two officers as they attempted to arrest him on the same day as Craig’s attack.