Two staff members of Rep. Gerry Connolly were attacked by a man carrying a baseball bat, resulting in their hospitalization.
In a statement, Connolly said that suspect Xuan Kha Tran Pham, 49, had asked for him before attacking the employees on Monday at his district office outside of Washington.
“The individual is in police custody and both members of my team were transferred to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Right now, our focus is on ensuring they are receiving the care they need,” Connolly continued.
One of his assistants was hit in the head, while the intern who was working her first day at the office was struck in the side.
Connolly is immensely grateful to the emergency medical personnel and City of Fairfax Police Department for their prompt assistance.
Without stating any possible reason, Sgt. Lisa Gardner, a spokeswoman for the City of Fairfax Police Department, stated that the man entered the office at 10:30 a.m and started swinging a metal bat erratically.
Connolly considers his team as “the best team in Congress.”
The congressman mentioned that his team is committed to helping the public and is always on hand to assist people with their issues. He is horrified and appalled that his employees, who are merely working to assist people, would come under attack.
The United States Capitol Police, with the coordination of Fairfax police and the FBI on the investigation, announced that the suspect from Fairfax is currently charged with aggravated malicious wounding and malicious wounding.
Violence against members of Congress has increased recently. Members of Congress have been attacked in three different instances during the previous several months.
The first incident happened at a wine festival, when a writer of feminist horror literature tossed her drink at Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.).
Second, Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minn.), who was assaulted in the elevator of her apartment building in Washington, D.C., tossed hot coffee at the attacker to scare him away.
Lastly, the husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) was hospitalized after an intruder who carried a hammer struck him over the head in their home in San Francisco.
