On Monday, the office of Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) confirmed in a statement that a member of the congressman’s staff was brutally stabbed “in broad daylight” over the weekend.
Paul said in the statement, “This past weekend a member of my staff was brutally attacked in broad daylight in Washington, D.C. I ask you to join Kelley and me in praying for a speedy and complete recovery, and thanking the first responders, hospital staff, and police for their diligent actions. We are relieved to hear the suspect has been arrested. At this time we would ask for privacy so everyone can focus on healing and recovery.”
The Washington D.C. Police Department tweeted, “MPD announces an arrest has been made in reference to an Assault with Intent to Kill (Knife) offense that occurred on Saturday, March 25, 2023, in the 1300 blk of H St, NE. Thank you to all who assisted in making DC safer with this arrest!”
MPD announces an arrest has been made in reference to an Assault with Intent to Kill (Knife) offense that occurred on Saturday, March 25, 2023, in the 1300 blk of H St, NE.
Thank you to all who assisted in making DC safer with this arrest!
Release: https://t.co/VW8KizwKmj pic.twitter.com/dnxMHfhJCi
— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) March 27, 2023
Reportedly, the attack occurred on Saturday, March 25 early in the evening. According to the news release from the Metropolitan Police Department, the perpetrator was arrested and charged with assault with intent to kill. The statement reads:
Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s First District announce an arrest has been made in reference to an Assault with Intent to Kill (Knife) offense that occurred on Saturday, March 25, 2023, in the 1300 block of H Street, Northeast.
At approximately 5:17 pm, members of the First District were dispatched to the listed location for the report of a stabbing. Upon arrival, members located an adult male stabbing victim. The victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries.
On Saturday, March 25, 2023, as a result of the detectives’ investigation, 42-year-old Glynn Neal, of Southeast, DC, was arrested and charged with Assault with Intent to Kill (Knife).
This instance of political violence is reminiscent of the 2017 attack on Rand Paul, which left him hospitalized with severe injuries. Later in 2020, Paul and his wife were attacked by a mob following their attendance at a GOP event. Fox News reported on the past attack:
Sen. Paul himself was attacked by a neighbor and sustained serious injuries in 2017. He suffered six broken ribs, including three displaced fractures, and his recovery was complicated by fluid and blood around the lungs and recurrent pneumonia.
Paul and his wife were also previously attacked by a mob as the pair made their way back to a hotel following Donald Trump’s 2020 Republican National Convention acceptance speech at the White House. One man was charged with assaulting a police officer near Paul at the time but it was later dropped.
Another example of political violence directed at Republican politicians occurred in 2017 when a far-left activist committed a mass shooting at a congressional baseball practice in Alexandria, Virginia. Six people were shot, including the then U.S. House Majority Whip, Steve Scalise, U.S. Capitol Police officer Crystal Griner, congressional aide Zack Barth, and lobbyist Matt Mika, by 66-year-old James Hodgkinson. It appears political violence aimed at conservatives is becoming more common.
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