Rep. Sean P. Duffy (R-Wis.) was assaulted on Wednesday night as he was walking to the U.S. Capitol. His camp confirmed today that someone screamed at the congressman and grabbed his arm.
"A random individual, unknown to the congressman, began screaming at him and grabbed his arm," spokeswoman Cassie Smedile said in a statement to Roll Call on Thursday morning. "Mr. Duffy was unharmed. He reported the incident in compliance with House security procedures."
Smedile also said that Duffy requested "no further action be taken" and that no additional comment would be issued on the matter. Neither his official Twitter nor Facebook accounts address the incident.
Rep. Sean Duffy, R-Wis., stands with his family for a ceremonial photo with Speaker of the House John Boehner, R-Ohio, left, in the Rayburn Room of the Capitol after the new 113th Congress convened on Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013, in Washington. The official oath of office for all members of the House was administered earlier in the House chamber. Credit: AP
While Duffy's team has not confirmed the motivation for the assault, it is suspected that it had something to do with the government shutdown and his opposition to Obamacare.
The congressman has said that he did not want the government to close, but has repeatedly fought to halt the implementation of the Affordable Care Act.
The Associated Press reports that Capitol Police are looking into an assault on a member of Congress, but further details were not immediately given. No arrests have been made.
Duffy, who once appeared on the "Real World," was first elected to Congress in 2010.
(H/T: Roll Call)
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