Congresswoman Grace Meng mugged in D.C.

Nov. 20 (UPI) -- New York congresswoman Grace Meng was attacked and robbed in the neighborhood near Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., Tuesday evening, after having dinner with a friend.

Meng said she was attacked from behind and knocked out around 8:30 p.m. in the Eastern Market neighborhood. She was found bruised and disoriented by responding officers on the corner of 2nd Street and Independence Ave. SE, less than a block from the U.S. Capitol building, according to a D.C. police report.

The freshman Democrat was evaluated at the scene and transported to George Washington University Hospital for evaluation and treatment for abrasions, bruising, swelling and unconsciousness. She told police she could not remember what happened after she left dinner or how her Gucci tote was stolen.

While police have yet to make any arrests, they were able to pull prints off an old cell phone that fell out of Meng's purse.

"I’m from New York City and I have not been mugged like that," Meng said. "But the Capitol Police were great, the D.C. Police Department was very helpful."

Meng missed votes in the House Wednesday afternoon, but later arrived to spend the rest of the day seeing to her congressional duties.