Kendrid Khalil Hamlin, 27, was sentenced to 27 months in prison Thursday for assaulting Rep. Angie Craig (D) in the elevator of her apartment building, the Washington Examiner reported. Authorities do not believe Hamlin targeted the Minnesota Democrat for political reasons.
In addition to the prison term, Hamlin will spend another 36 months on supervised release. Prosecutors were pushing for more jail time for Hamlin because of his previous criminal history that included assaulting police officers, the New York Post reported.
During his arrest for the assault on the congresswoman, Hamlin racked up two more assault charges stemming from a scuffle with the officers who arrested him. He also bit one of the arresting officers on the shoulder.
The assault occurred on the morning of Feb. 9 at Craig's Washington, D.C., apartment building. The congresswoman had noticed Hamlin "acting erratic" in the lobby of her building before he ambushed her.
Craig described what happened in her victim impact statement. "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," she wrote.
"Mr. Hamlin trapped me inside. He grabbed my neck and slammed me into the steel wall," Craig described the attack in the elevator.
"He punched me in the face. He attempted to pull me back in as the doors opened, and I screamed for help," she added.
"Physically, the attack left bruising and a cut to my lip, as well as several days of soreness and discomfort," Craig said. She got away from Hamlin by throwing a cup of hot coffee at him before he could do more, but the incident has significantly impacted her life.
"While my physical recovery was days, my mental and emotional recovery has taken much longer and is ongoing. My sense of safety and security has been significantly impacted," the Minnesota Democrat said.
While reporting on the attack, MSNBC provided the full address of the building where the attack took place. This forced Craig to move her and her family to another address which further compounded her woes after the attack.
“Yes, I fought Mr. Hamlin off and escaped. And I feel very fortunate to have not been more physically injured," Craig's statement continued.
"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," the congresswoman asserted.
Craig had recommended the court provide help to Hamlin with mental health resources and addiction treatment. She warned 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."
This repeat offender is a result of a fatal flaw in the justice system that allows criminals back on the streets to offend again and again. Craig is lucky to be alive, but the next victim may not be so fortunate.
