This week, Rep. Eric Burlison (R-Missouri) revealed in an interview with radio host Todd Starnes that several of his congressional colleagues have resorted to sleeping in their offices due to fears of being attacked or murdered on the streets of Washington, D.C.
The congressman’s statement followed Rep. Henry Cuellar’s (D-Texas) carjacking and robbery Monday in the Navy Yard neighborhood, which is home to many members of Congress.
“How dangerous is it in Washington?” Starnes asked.
“It’s very dangerous,” Burlison responded. “I mean, it’s insane to even own a car in D.C. because wherever you park, it is going to cost you a fortune, and it’s likely to get broken into and you’re likely to get carjacked.”
“You know, we hunker down in the Capitol building. … It’s a security calculation to actually sleep in your office,” Burlison added.
An obviously stunned Starnes replied: “You’re telling me that it’s so dangerous in Washington that some of these lawmakers are actually sleeping in their offices?”
“Yeah,” Burlison said. “I mean, Todd, I don’t want to walk back and forth from an apartment in D.C. at night or in the early morning to get to work. It’s not a safe environment.”
“It’s shocking,” Starnes said. “I think I have to imagine people listening to this, congressman, are just dumbfounded that things are that bad in Washington, D.C. I know Sen. Mike Lee last night was tweeting that maybe it’s time to take back control of the district.”
The Missouri Republican attributed the recent rise in criminal activity to the implementation of toxic far-left policies by the Democrats who are currently in control of Washington, D.C., as well as their lenient stance on crime.
The Western Journal added: “According to the Metropolitan Police Department, violent crimes in Washington are up 40 percent year over year, with robberies up 70 percent and homicides up 38 percent. Car theft has risen 105 percent.”
Rep. Angie Craig of Minnesota sustained bruising following an alleged attack in an apartment building where she resides, though her Chief of Staff Nick Coe confirmed that she is otherwise physically unharmed. In response to the arrest of a suspect in connection with the incident, Rep. Craig released a statement via Twitter on February.
“There is no evidence that the incident was politically motivated,” the statement continued.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) reported on its website that Kendrick Hamlin, 26, was arrested and charged with assault on Thursday. He is without a fixed address. While the identity of the victim was not initially disclosed by the MPD, they later posted a tweet indicating that it was a Member of Congress.
According to WUSA-TV’s account of the incident, Craig encountered Hamlin in her apartment building’s lobby and noticed he appeared to be under the influence of an unknown substance.
Upon entering the elevator together, Hamlin began doing push-ups before punching Craig in the chin and grabbing her neck. Craig then threw hot coffee at him which enabled her escape from the elevator and call 911 for help.
She eventually proceeded to her office at Congress as per usual routine while police searched for Hamlin.
“Hearing that is pretty disconcerting. That something like this can happen, but I am glad to hear she is all right,” said Tony Kaurilla, Craig’s neighbor.
“Rep. Craig is grateful to the DC Metropolitan Police Department for their quick response and asks for privacy at this time,” Coe’s statement continued.
Craig released a statement Friday afternoon, noting she was back in Minnesota recovering.
“My morning coffee really saved the day yesterday, but not exactly how I expected it to,” Craig said. “On a serious note, I will also say that I was very, very lucky that I was not more injured — and I’ll have more to say about that soon.”
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