U.S. Representative Henry Cuellar, a Democrat from Texas, was carjacked by three armed attackers on Monday night, according to his office. Cuellar’s chief of staff, Jacob Hochberg, confirmed that as the congressman was parking his car, the assailants approached him and stole his vehicle. Fortunately, Cuellar was unharmed in the incident and is working with local law enforcement authorities. The stolen vehicle was later recovered by the police. The robbery took place at New Jersey Avenue and K Street SE in Washington’s Navy Yard area, which is about a mile away from the U.S. Capitol.
This incident follows a similar assault on a member of Congress earlier this year in the District of Columbia. In February, Democratic Representative Angie Craig from Minnesota was attacked in her Washington apartment building, suffering bruises while managing to escape serious injuries. However, her chief of staff stated that the assault did not appear to be politically motivated. In that case, Kendrid Khalil Hamlin pleaded guilty to charges of assaulting a member of Congress and law enforcement officers. He was accused of assaulting two officers during his arrest on the same day as Craig’s attack.
The carjacking of Representative Henry Cuellar is a concerning incident highlighting the vulnerability of public officials to such crimes. Thankfully, Cuellar remained unharmed, but the incident raises questions about the safety of elected representatives. The fact that this comes just months after Representative Angie Craig’s assault emphasizes the need for enhanced security measures and vigilance for members of Congress in the District of Columbia. It remains crucial for law enforcement agencies to thoroughly investigate these incidents and ensure the safety of all public officials carrying out their duties in the nation’s capital.