Democrat Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX) was carjacked at gunpoint Monday night near his residence in the Navy Yard area of Washington, D.C.
The robbery occurred just a few blocks from the U.S. Capitol.
Cuellar’s chief of staff, Jacob Hochberg, said:
“As Congressman Cuellar was parking his car this evening, 3 armed assailants approached the Congressman and stole his vehicle.
“Luckily, he was not harmed and is working with local law enforcement.
“Thank you to Metro PD and Capitol Police for their swift action and for recovering the Congressman’s vehicle.”
The Metropolitan Police Department of Washington, D.C. said:
“There was a report of an armed carjacking that came in at approximately 9:32 pm at the intersection of New Jersey and K Street, Southeast.
“The victim has been identified as a Member of Congress, so the USCP has investigators working with MPD on this case.
“Injuries were not reported.
“Detectives are working to track down the suspects.”
Carjackings have skyrocketed in DC since the soft-on crime prosecutors took over.
At some point today, we’ll reach a new milestone in DC – 650 carjackings….for perspective – that’s 4x # of carjackings in 2018 and 2019. H/t @axios for stats. pic.twitter.com/GBeAgo5gIQ
— ANC6B10 (@Anc6B10) August 26, 2023
Monday’s incident made Cuellar the second Democrat in Congress to become a victim of crime in the nation’s capital this year.
In February, Minnesota Rep. Angie Craig was attacked in an elevator at her apartment building before fighting off her attacker.
The carjacking also comes just two weeks after law enforcement officials held an open forum on Capitol Hill for members of Congress and Capitol Hill staff to discuss public safety in the surrounding neighborhoods.
Multiple congressional staffers have been victims of crime in the district this year, including one of Rep. Brad Finstad’s (R-MN) staff members who was brutally attacked leaving the Congressional baseball game in June.
A member of Sen. Rand Paul’s (R-KY) staff was attacked in broad daylight in March.
