Republican Senate staffer robbed at gunpoint in Washington, DC

On Thursday, a staffer for Alabama Sen. Katie Britt (R) was robbed at gunpoint with the suspect making off with her car, bag, computer, and other items. 

According to WUSA 9, the female staffer was walking down the sidewalk near the 1200 block of E Street NE around 8:20 pm when a person demanded she give them her purse and keys while pointing a gun in her face. 

Britt thanked the DC police for acting quickly in a statement. "We thank God that she is safe and sound after this terrifying incident, and we're grateful to the Capitol Police Department and Metropolitan Police Department officers who quickly and professionally responded to the scene," she said. 

"It is infuriating and completely unacceptable that an American who is on Capitol Hill to serve her country cannot safely walk the streets of Washington, D.C. at 8:30 at night because of the out-of-control crime in this city, "Britt added about the city's crime problem. Just look at the police department’s own numbers – this year, robberies are up 68% and motor vehicle thefts are up 102%."

"Local elected officials in the District of Columbia have the responsibility not just to their citizens, but to the country, to step up and get a hold of the crime crisis ravaging the streets of our nation’s capital," she concluded.

This year there have been several instances of people who work on Capitol Hill being victims of violent crimes. Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX) was carjacked earlier this month when "3 armed assailants approached the Congressman and stole his vehicle," according to his staff. 

In June, a staffer for Rep. Brad Finstad (R-MN) was attacked by two men on his way home from the annual Congressional Baseball Game. One of the assailants was carrying a gun but the man was able to escape with only cuts and bruises. 

In March, a member of Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul's (R) staff, Phillip Todd, was stabbed in broad daylight on the 1300 block of H Street not far from the capital. Before the incident, Glynn Neal, his alleged attacker, had just finished a 12-year and four-month prison sentence the day prior. 

As of Oct. 20, the Washington DC Metropolitan Police Department reports that total violent crime is up 39% in 2023 over the same period last year, with 4,324 incidents in 2023 compared to 3,101 in 2022.