U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar was carjacked by three armed attackers in Washington, D.C. on Monday, the Texas Democrat’s office said.
Cuellar’s chief of staff Jacob Hochberg released a statement Monday night saying: “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.”
Hochberg said police recovered Cuellar’s vehicle.
The Washington Post reported that the robbery happened in Washington’s Navy Yard area, about a mile from the U.S. Capitol.
Monday’s carjacking was the second assault on a member of Congress in the Democrat-run District of Columbia this year. In February, Democratic Rep. Angie Craig of Minnesota was assaulted in her apartment building, suffering bruises while escaping serious injury. Her chief of staff said the attack did not appear to be politically motivated.
Unlike many Democratic leaders, Cuellar has long stood in favor of police funding.
“I, and other folks do not support the defunding of police. That is not a practical solution,” Cuellar said in June 2020.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.