Capitol Police find suspect in attack on House Dem’s staff with baseball bat.

Man Arrested for Alleged Baseball Bat Attack on Congressional Staffers

The U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) have identified the suspect in the alleged baseball bat attack on staffers for Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA) at his district office in Fairfax, Virginia, on Monday.

Xuan Kha Tran Pham, a 49-year-old man from Fairfax, Virginia, has been arrested and charged in connection to the incident, the federal law enforcement agency said in a statement.

“At approximately 10:49 a.m. on Monday, May 15, a man entered Representative Connolly’s District Office. Two Congressional staffers were assaulted with a metal bat and received non-life threatening injuries. Congressman Connolly was not in the office at the time of the assaults,” the Capitol Police said.

The suspect faces one count of Aggravated Malicious Wounding and one count of Malicious Wounding, the USCP said. An investigation by the USCP and the Fairfax City Police Department is ongoing.

Connolly’s Response

Connolly announced earlier in the day that his two staffers had been transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The congressman said a man wielding a baseball bat attacked the staffers after asking for the congressman.

“Right now, our focus is on ensuring they are receiving the care they need. We are incredibly thankful to the City of Fairfax Police Department and emergency medical professionals for their quick response,” Connolly said in his statement.

“I have the best team in Congress. My District Office staff make themselves available to constituents and members of the public every day,” the congressman said. “The thought that someone would take advantage of my staff’s accessibility to commit an act of violence is unconscionable and devastating.”

Increase in Threats Against Members of Congress

As noted by the USCP in its press release, last month Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger testified about the challenge of contending with a roughly 400% increase in threats against members of Congress over the past six years.

“Over the course of the last year, the world has continuously changed, becoming more violent and uncertain,” Manger added.

What We Know So Far

• The suspect, Xuan Kha Tran Pham, has been arrested and charged in connection to the alleged baseball bat attack on staffers for Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA) at his district office in Fairfax, Virginia.
• Two Congressional staffers were assaulted with a metal bat and received non-life threatening injuries.
• Connolly’s two staffers have been transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
• The suspect faces one count of Aggravated Malicious Wounding and one count of Malicious Wounding.
• An investigation by the USCP and the Fairfax City Police Department is ongoing.

Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.