October 3, 2023
As Congressman Cuellar was parking his car this evening, 3 armed assailants approached the Congressman and stole his vehicle.
United States Rep. Henry Cuellar’s (D-TX) chief of staff in a statement released Monday night. Cuellar was carjacked around a mile from the U.S. Capitol in an incident that is currently under investigation.
Why It Matters: Three men held Cuellar up at gunpoint, though he “was not harmed” and police have since recovered his vehicle. The following day, Cueller shared on X (formerly Twitter), “I’m happy to share that I’m safe, sound, and enjoyed a good dinner this evening. Each and every day is a blessing.” According to The Associated Press, “Monday’s carjacking was the second assault on a member of Congress in the District of Columbia this year.” A man assaulted Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN) in her D.C. apartment building in February in what appeared to be a non-politically motivated attack.
Big Picture: Preliminary data from the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department shows that robbery has increased 70% and motor vehicle theft has increased 105% since 2022, per data most recently updated on October 5, 2023. Overall, crime in D.C. is up 28% this year, after slightly decreasing in 2022. Learn more HERE.
US Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas is carjacked by three armed attackers about a mile from the Capitol (The Associated Press)
by Emily Hooker, based in Texas
