Congresswoman attacked, mugged near U.S. Capitol

Rep. Grace Meng, D-N.Y., was attacked and mugged on the streets of Washington, D.C., blocks away from the U.S. Capitol, Tuesday night but has fully recovered and is back to normal activities, her office said Wednesday.

The congresswoman, a freshman who represents Queens, was walking to her Washington apartment near 6th St. and Pennsylvania Ave., SE, after dinner Tuesday night when she was hit in the back of the head. She fell to the ground, and the perpetrator stole her handbag and fled.

"While this was a frightening ordeal, I fortunately was not seriously injured," Meng said in a statement. "Obviously, things could have been much worse. I thank the U.S. Capitol Police and the District of Columbia Police for responding quickly and professionally."

Meng, 38, underwent a CAT scan at George Washington University Hospital, her office said.