Staffers injured after attack with bat in Virginia field office of US congressman

FAIRFAX, Va. (CN) — Police arrested a man at the district office of Congressman Gerry Connolly on Monday morning for causing injuries to two members of Connolly's staff.

According to police, Xuan-Kha Tran Pham, 49, entered the lawmaker's office in Fairfax and assaulted two members of Connolly's staff with a metal baseball bat. The two staffers and a responding police officer sustained non-life threatening injuries.

According to police, a motive has yet to be determined.

A statement from the lawmaker's office in Fairfax says Pham requested the congressman by name while carrying the bat, which he then swung against the staffers.

“Right now, our focus is on ensuring [the staffers] are receiving the care they need,” the congressman wrote. “We are incredibly thankful to the City of Fairfax Police Department and emergency medical professionals for their quick response.”

Connolly commended his staff for their work with the public. “The thought that someone would take advantage of my staff’s accessibility to commit an act of violence is unconscionable and devastating,” the lawmaker added.

The Virginia Democrat told CNN that the two aides injured in the attack were a senior staffer and an intern for whom it was their first day on the job. Connolly was at an event with constituents at the time of the attack, he said.

Both state and federal lawmakers expressed their support for Connolly and his staff on social media.

“Acts of violence cannot be tolerated,” Tennessee Republican Mark Green tweeted. Green and Connolly serve together on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

“Horrific,” wrote Senator Tim Kaine, a fellow Virginia Democrat. “Praying for these public servants and Team Connolly.”

New Jersey Congressman Bill Pascrell decried the attack as un-American. “This attack on Congressman Connolly’s staff is disgusting and despicable.”

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin joined members of Congress in denouncing political violence. “We’ve seen this against our judiciary, we’ve seen this against our legislative branch and it has no place in our Commonwealth,” Youngkin said.

A spokesperson for Connolly’s office did not immediately return a request for comment on the condition of the two injured staffers.

Follow @BenjaminSWeiss

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