WASHINGTON — A man pleaded guilty Thursday to three counts related to an attack on Minnesota U.S. Rep. Angie Craig in an elevator in her D.C. apartment building earlier this year.
Kendrid Khalil Hamlin pleaded guilty to assaulting a member of Congress and two counts of assaulting law enforcement, U.S. District Court records show.
Sentencing is set for Sept. 15. Hamlin was arrested after the Feb. 9 incident and indicted in late March.
A spokesperson for Craig did not comment on Hamlin pleading guilty.
According to a U.S. Capitol Police criminal complaint, Hamlin following Craig into an elevator and then blocked her from leaving. When Craig attempted to get around Hamlin, the report said Hamlin punched Craig and then grabbed her collarbone. Craig got away after she threw hot coffee at him.
The attack was not considered politically motivated. Hamlin has a long criminal history. His defense attorneys said in a previous court filing that Hamlin has "experienced mental illness and homelessness" and "struggled with substance abuse as a means of self-medicating his mental health symptoms for many years."
The judge ordered a presentence investigation, which is standard.
Hamlin's federal public defenders said in a statement Thursday that "Mr. Hamlin accepted responsibility for his actions today with the earnest hope of moving towards rehabilitation and the mental health treatment he very much wants and needs."
"Unfortunately, we know that meaningful treatment and rehabilitation will not occur in prison," the statement from Katie D'Adamo Guevara and Eugene Jeen-Young Kim Ohm said. "We are hopeful that all parties can work together to finally provide Mr. Hamlin with the opportunity to get mental health support and treatment, as well as stable housing upon his release."
Staff writer Rochelle Olson contributed to this report.
