Glynn Neal, the man who allegedly attacked Senator Rand Paul’s staffer, had been released from a 12-year prison sentence just one day before the incident.
Neal was sentenced to 12 years and four months in prison in 2011 on charges of “compelling an individual to live a life of prostitution without his or her consent” and “threat to kidnap to injure a person”.
On Saturday, Neal approached Paul’s staffer, Phillip Todd, on a street in Washington, DC before stabbing Todd, resulting in “life-threatening injuries”.
Paul confirmed the assault in a statement released on Monday.
🚨BREAKING: A Rand Paul staffer was stabbed with a knife "in broad daylight" in Washington DC this weekend. pic.twitter.com/x2JFZGTCnq
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) March 27, 2023
“This past weekend a member of my staff was brutally attacked in broad daylight in Washington, D.C.,” Paul wrote.
“I ask you to join Kelley and me in praying for a speedy and complete recovery and thanking the first responders, hospital staff, and police for their diligent actions. We are relieved to hear the suspect has been arrested. At this time we would ask for privacy so everyone can focus on healing and recovery.”
DC Police Department arrested Neal for “an Assault with Intent to Kill (Knife)”. Senator Paul released a statement asking for privacy and prayers for Todd’s recovery and thanking first responders, hospital staff, and police for their diligent actions.
MPD announces an arrest has been made in reference to an Assault with Intent to Kill (Knife) offense that occurred on Saturday, March 25, 2023, in the 1300 blk of H St, NE.
Thank you to all who assisted in making DC safer with this arrest!
Release: https://t.co/VW8KizwKmj pic.twitter.com/dnxMHfhJCi
— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) March 27, 2023
The incident occurred at a time when the Washington, DC city council had recently proposed a change that would have reduced penalties for violent crimes.
However, Congress stepped in, and President Joe Biden rejected the proposal. Over the past year, Washington, DC has seen a slight decline of 3 percent in assaults involving a dangerous weapon, but the area has experienced a surge in sexual abuse (up 105 percent), motor vehicle theft (up 108 percent), and arson (up 400 percent). The homicide rate has also risen by 19 percent from 2022 to 2023, and overall crime has gone up by 23 percent in the District of Columbia.
