Lesbian U.S. Congressmember Angie Craig (D-Minnesota) is "physically okay" after suffering an attack Thursday morning in the elevator of her Washington, D.C. apartment building, according to a statement from her chief of staff.
News of the attack broke February 9 with a statement from the congressmember's office, but more details came with a Metropolitan Police Department report obtained by NBC News that revealed the assailant "punched [Craig] on the chin area of her face, and later grabbed her neck."
"Rep. Craig defended herself from the attacker and suffered bruising, but is otherwise physically okay," Nick Coe, Craig's chief of staff, said in the statement. The attacker "fled the scene" after Craig called emergency services, Coe said.
Craig defended herself and threw her cup of hot coffee at him, per the police report. The U.S. Capitol Police subsequently said it is also investigating the attack, but that "there is no indication that the congresswoman was targeted because of her position."
Craig was first elected in 2018, is the first openly LGBTQ member of Congress from Minnesota. Her colleagues quickly offered support via social media.
U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota) tweeted: "To give you a sense of how strong @AngieCraigMN is, she went straight to the Hill this morning and attended a meeting in the Senate with the Governor and me and several members of our delegation about legislation for the people of her district. No one messes with Angie."
To give you a sense of how strong @AngieCraigMN is, she went straight to the Hill this morning and attended a meeting in the Senate with the Governor and me and several members of our delegation about legislation for the people of her district.
No one messes with Angie. https://t.co/D7TizOeTQ9
- Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar) February 9, 2023
"This is despicable," Congressmember Dean Phillips (D-Minnesota) wrote on Twitter. "Angie is tough, and it's no surprise she defended herself against a violent, unprovoked attack. We must invest in mental health support and upstream crime prevention. We must."
This is despicable. Angie is tough, and it's no surprise she defended herself against a violent, unprovoked attack. We must invest in mental health support and upstream crime prevention. We must. https://t.co/sit5BL5sfV
- Rep. Dean Phillips 🇺🇸 (@RepDeanPhillips) February 9, 2023
Craig also received support from the Congressional Equality Caucus.
The @Equality_Caucus is sending our well wishes to Co-Chair @RepAngieCraig after this egregious attack.
Violence of any kind is unacceptable. We are happy to hear she is doing well & will continue to support her as she recovers. https://t.co/J8iIjjt0h0
- Congressional Equality Caucus (@EqualityCaucus) February 9, 2023
"The @Equality_Caucus is sending our well wishes to Co-Chair @RepAngieCraig after this egregious attack," tweeted the Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus. "Violence of any kind is unacceptable. We are happy to hear she is doing well & will continue to support her as she recovers."
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