The homeless man who attacked Democratic Rep. Angie Craig in her Washington, DC, apartment building elevator earlier this year was sentenced to 27 months in prison on Thursday.
The prison sentence handed down to Kendrid Khalil Hamlin, 26, will be followed by 36 months of supervised release, US District Court Chief Judge James E. Boasberg ruled. Prosecutors had sought a 39-month prison term for Hamlin, citing his history of assaulting law enforcement officers.
Hamlin also attacked two law enforcement officers attempting to arrest him, biting one on the shoulder. He pleaded guilty earlier this year to one count of assault on a member of Congress and two counts of assault on a law enforcement officer.
“While this case has received much attention because I am a Member of Congress, that morning I was simply a woman followed into an elevator by a man and assaulted there,” Craig, 51, wrote in a victim impact statement describing the unprovoked attack to the court.
“Mr. Hamlin trapped me inside. He grabbed my neck and slammed me into the steel wall. He punched me in the face. He attempted to pull me back in as the doors opened, and I screamed for help. Physically the attack left bruising and a cut to my lip, as well as several days of soreness and discomfort,” the Minnesota congresswoman wrote.
Craig defended herself from Hamlin by tossing hot coffee at the man and running out of the elevator.
“While my physical recovery was days, my mental and emotional recovery has taken much longer and is ongoing,” Craig said. “My sense of safety and security has been significantly impacted.”
The Democrat noted that she was also “doxxed by a media outlet” that revealed her apartment’s address after the attack, forcing her to break her lease and move for “targeted security concerns,” and that herself and her staff have received death threats.
MSNBC aired the unredacted address of Craig’s apartment when the network put up a photo of the police report detailing the assault the day after it occurred.
“Yes, I fought Mr. Hamlin off and escaped. And I feel very fortunate to have not been more physically injured. However, I wish to bring to the court’s attention that his actions have resulted in significant adverse consequences afterward. I respectfully request that the court take these impacts into account and ensure that Mr. Hamlin is held accountable for his actions,” Craig added.
The congresswomen hoped that Hamlin would be provided with mental health and addiction services as well, arguing that “until that occurs, given his history of previous convictions and my own experience, I believe he would continue to be a further threat to others.”
Authorities noted that Hamlin had been “acting erratic” in the lobby of Craig’s building, including doing push-ups inside the elevator, before he assaulted the lawmaker.
Hamlin’s attorney said during his sentencing that his client was battling drug abuse and homelessness at the time of the assault, and that he’s been diagnosed with schizophrenia and mental disabilities.
“I was assault No. 13 on his record,” Craig told CBS News in February, referencing Hamlin’s lengthy and violent rap sheet. “And I’m gonna do everything in my power to make sure there’s not a 14, a 15, a 20.”
