Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX) was carjacked in Washington D.C. on Monday night.
The Texas representative was “near the Navy Yard neighborhood when three suspects held him at gun point and stole his Honda CHR,” WLTReport reports.
“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,” Cuellar’s chief of staff said in a statement.
🚨#BREAKING: Democrat U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar was carjacked at gunpoint outside of his apartment building in Washington DC tonight.
Cuellar is reportedly safe. pic.twitter.com/aDEVHStuxm
— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) October 3, 2023
Journalist Nick Sortor shared the crime alert issued after the carjacking:
Three black men wearing all black clothing took the Congressman’s white Honda CHR. pic.twitter.com/KQoGA9Kpgl
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) October 3, 2023
“My friend, Rep. Cuellar (D. TX), became the victim of a crime tonight in what’s considered a nice part of D.C. D.C. is dangerous. Something’s gone terribly wrong here—for far too long. Congress has the sole power to make D.C.’s laws, and must intervene,” said Senator Mike Lee (R-TX).
My friend, @RepCuellar (D. TX), became the victim of a crime tonight in what’s considered a nice part of D.C.
D.C. is dangerous. Something’s gone terribly wrong here—for far too long.
Congress has the sole power to make D.C.’s laws, and must intervene.https://t.co/MlDwfkqLKm
— Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) October 3, 2023
The “Metropolitan Police Department said that the U.S. Capitol Police had taken over the investigation,” Fox News reports.
“The Metropolitan Police Department responded to a report of an armed carjacking Monday evening at approximately 9:32 p.m. at the intersection of New Jersey and K Street, Southeast. The victim was identified as a member of Congress and the United States Capitol Police took over the investigation. MPD is assisting Capitol Police’s Criminal Investigative Division,” the MPD said in a statement.
Fox News reports:
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 U.S. Rep. Brad Finstad’s staff members who was brutally attacked leaving the Congressional baseball game in June, and a member of Sen. Rand Paul’s staff who was attacked in broad daylight in March.