US Congresswoman throws hot coffee at attacker 

A US congresswoman was attacked in a lift in her Washington DC apartment building on Thursday, after fighting back by throwing hot coffee at the attacker. 

Kendrick Hamlin has been arrested and accused of punching and grabbing the neck of Angie Craig, a Minnesota Democrat. 

Hamlin, 26, of no fixed address, has been charged with simple assault. The case is not thought to be politically motivated. 

Who is Angie Craig? 

Ms Craig, 50, was elected to Congress in 2018 and is an openly gay mother-of-four and serves as co-chairwoman of the Congressional Equality Caucus. 

Her chief of staff Nick Coe said in a statement that she “defended herself from the attacker and suffered bruising, but is otherwise physically okay.” 

She called 911 emergency services and the “assailant fled the scene”.

According to a public incident report, she told investigators there was a person acting erratically and possibly under the influence of drugs in the lobby of her apartment building. 

When she boarded the lift, the person followed her inside and “began to randomly do push-ups” after she bade him good morning, says the report.

The person allegedly punched Ms Craig in the chin and grabbed her neck. She reportedly defended herself by throwing hot coffee at the attacker.

Police had earlier released a photo of the suspect, asking the public for help in identifying him.

House of Representatives Democratic leader Hakeem Jefferies sad the caucus was “horrified” by the attack.